Husner presents his view of Bali in exhibition<\/p>\n
By Putu Wirata<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A comprehensive look at an anthropologic
\njourney to Bali is the main topic of Dutch painter Paul Husner's
\nworks, displayed at Ganesha Gallery in Jimbaran.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, running from March 6 to March 31, portrays the
\nexotic life of the Balinese from the West's point of view. During
\nhis stay in Bali, Husner and his wife Tine, an anthropologist,
\ntraveled to all parts of the island, as well as to other islands
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Husners were impressed by the natural beauty of Bali and
\nits friendly residents. Husner recorded his time in Bali through
\nhundreds of sketches, which he transferred to colorful canvases.<\/p>\n
Husner portrays the myriad aspects of the Balinese and their
\nlives. The sketches depict the beautiful panorama of Gunung Agung
\n(Agung Mountain), the lives of everyday people and farmers
\nworking in their ricefields.<\/p>\n
\"We've found and seen so many interesting things during our
\ntrips to Balinese villages,\" explained Husner.<\/p>\n
Born in Basel, Switzerland, in l942, Husner moved to Amsterdam
\nin l964 where he studied fine arts and graphic arts at the
\nNational Academy of Arts and at Gerrit Rietveld Academy.<\/p>\n
He has received numerous art awards, including the D'Criot Art
\nAward (l969), the Willink van Collen Award and other art prizes.
\nBesides Indonesia, Husner has traveled to several other
\ncountries, including Spain, Mexico, Egypt, Greece, Tunisia,
\nItaly, Morocco, Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
About three years ago, Husner decided to move to Ubud and
\nbuild a small art studio in the middle of the mountain landscape
\nand green and layered ricefields.<\/p>\n
In the majority of his paintings, Husner uses bright colors to
\ncapture the jovial mood of the Balinese, who seem to lead simple
\nyet fulfilling lives. Of course, this may simply be Husner's
\nimpression as a foreign painter depicting native subjects.<\/p>\n
In a painting titled Berkunjung ke Kampung (A trip to the
\nvillage), Husner shows a young couple sitting on the terrace of
\ntheir modest house. Each holds a child on their lap and in the
\nbackyard a woman hangs clothes on a rope.<\/p>\n
In another painting, a young man wears traditional dress for a
\nceremony in that particular Balinese setting -- Gunung Agung as
\nthe backdrop, a candi bentar (Balinese gate) and a large tree
\nwrapped in poleng cloth.<\/p>\n
The painting is somewhat ambiguous. The man could be preparing
\nfor a ritual, or he could be a waiter in a hotel serving a guest
\na glass of wine.<\/p>\n
Many hotels in Bali require the staff to wear traditional
\nBalinese clothes. The scene in the painting could be taking place
\nin one of the many hotels which employ traditional Balinese
\narchitectural styles.<\/p>\n
The setting and subject of the painting may not seem important
\n-- be it a man in a temple or in a hotel. But viewers may notice
\nHusner's curiosity, or mockery. The wine glass -- which
\nrepresents Western culture -- does not fit in with the Balinese
\ntraditional costume, which embodies Eastern culture.<\/p>\n
Husner's works also include several landscape paintings.<\/p>\n
In one such painting, Husner shows a poor farmer carrying his
\nbaby and a shovel. Husner paints a beautiful, yellowish
\nricefields around an ornamental Hindu temple.<\/p>\n
The painting is dominated by yellow and green, with brown as
\nan accent. In this landscape, Husner successfully captures the
\ndelight on the farmer's face during harvest time.<\/p>\n
The harvest is the happiest moment for most Balinese farmers.
\nIt means money, which they can use to buy new clothes, repair
\ntheir houses and save for their futures.<\/p>\n
Other striking works are Husner's paintings of a Balinese
\ndrummer and traditional musicians, and his depiction of a young
\nman with a turtledove. Almost all of Husner's paintings show the
\njoviality of the warm-hearted Balinese and the island's wonderful
\nlandscape.<\/p>\n
His paintings rarely look at the despair of the poor Balinese.
\nDuring his journeys to Balinese villages, Husner may never have
\ncome across the beggars roaming the narrow streets of Ubud, or
\nthe poor construction workers in Bali's urban areas. Maybe the
\nartist is just not interested in portraying the dark side of
\nBali.<\/p>",
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