German artist paints Indonesian images<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing JakArt2001 festival seems to have
\nstretched its arms far and wide to exhibit artworks of
\nsignificant variety. Among them is German artist Andreas
\nTorneberg, who is currently displaying about 20 of his artworks
\nat Wisma Mitra Budaya until the end of June.<\/p>\n
Primarily using acrylic, Andreas defies the popular usage of
\ngradations in tone and tint -- instead, he concentrates on
\nproducing 3D images that seem to be articulate in the use of
\nsharp contrasts and flat colors. It is as if he enjoyed dunking a
\nbroad brush in generous potfuls of paint and then painting with a
\nprecise and accurate hand. It's an accuracy stemming from the
\nprecise picture he has already painted in his head.<\/p>\n
One wonders about the inspiration of the artist. He could not
\nhave visited Indonesia and painted from memory. An answer to this
\nquest lies in a number of photographs displayed at the bottom of
\neach painting. It seems as if each painting is the amalgamation
\nof ten to fifteen of such photographs.<\/p>\n
Sprayed in between his artworks are posters with poetic words
\non them. With titles such as The Tree and The Dance referring to
\nthe subject matter of his paintings, it seems as if Andreas wants
\nthe viewer to go one step beyond just the visual treat that his
\npaintings have to offer.<\/p>\n
In Merapi (220 x 70 cm) Andreas portrays Indonesian landscapes
\nin his typical bold and flat colors. There are four panels placed
\none below the other. Each shows a dominating mountain in the
\nbackground with rivers, black or blue, thatched roofs, maize
\nfields extending toward the foreground.<\/p>\n
A set of three panels entitled Green Fields (80x110 cm) depict
\nthe beautifully handcrafted, horizontal rice fields with an
\nomnipresent black mountain towering in a pale sky. While one is a
\ndirect view, the other two panels are aerial views of the rice
\nfields. The narrow strips of light contrast with darker shades,
\nwhich vividly illustrates the bright, tropical sunlight that
\ncreates sharp shadows on terraced slopes.<\/p>\n
Andreas has touched almost every facet of Indonesian culture
\nin his own unique style. Be it the stupas of Borobodur Temple,
\nthe wayang kulit (shadow dance puppets) or the rangda (Balinese
\nmask), Andreas paints with an innate, bold and masterful style.
\nEach stroke seems to be an indispensable spot, tracing the
\ncontours of the subject matter. Each line seems to tell a story
\n-- a story of Andreas' infatuation with Indonesian culture. As he
\nsays very aptly in the poem titled The Tree:<\/p>\n
A country is a person\/with many faces\/A pool of thoughts\/
\nFeelings\/Characters\/Hopes ...<\/p>\n
Some of Andreas' paintings are in monotones of green and cream
\nor black and white. Sometimes, as in Green Music (90x120 cm),
\nthey almost seem like a giant film negative hung up on the wall.
\nGreen and white figures playing in a traditional gamelan
\norchestra are spread in magnificent perspective across the
\ncanvas.<\/p>\n
With unique angles of everyday Indonesian objects, such as his
\npainting titled Back of Becak that depicts a close-up of the back
\nof a becak (three-wheeled pedicab), Andreas draws attention to
\nhis aesthetic prowess. In Birdmarket Andreas paints the vertical
\nlines of birdcages in almost geometric perfection using a motley
\nof earth tones such as brown and beige.<\/p>\n
In an ode to the title of the exhibition, The Dance, Andreas
\nattempts to portray his vision of the dancing elements of nature
\n-- volcanoes, fire, waves and wind through poetic verse:<\/p>\n
Made from fire and water; Volcanoes come out; Earthfire
\ncooled down...; And became a paradise of fruitful nature;
\nWhere lava erupted...; Deeply connected with the living depth;
\nAnd people did not forget; That paradise grows; in a ground of
\ninsecurity; did not forget the power of the dance; still they
\nbelieve; and they dance; in this believing; they dance.<\/p>\n
Andreas' works are a celebration of those natural elements,
\nand of the people he has met on his travels. (Pavan Kapoor)<\/p>\n
The exhibition is on until the end of June at Wisma Mitra
\nBudaya, Jl. Tanjung 34, Central Jakarta. For more information,
\ncontact organizer Cemara 6 Galeri at tel. 324505 or 3911823.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/german-artist-paints-indonesian-images-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}