JP\/19\/VDSTRR<\/p>\n
John van der Sterren's artistic sentimental journey<\/p>\n
Carla Bianpoen
\nContributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Nostalgia and bold lines are features by which the paintings of
\nJohn van der Sterren can be recognized.<\/p>\n
Much of his work used to be directly related to Indonesia,
\nwhere he was born and has spent part of his adult years.<\/p>\n
But the current exhibition of his paintings, held at the Four
\nSeasons hotel here, is dedicated to New Zealand, the country
\nwhere he found a warm welcome after his parents emigrated after
\nWorld War II. The exhibition was his way of saying thank you, he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
New Zealand, an island nation southeast of Australia, may not
\nbe generally known as well as other parts of the region, but
\ntourist information highlights the South Island, also called The
\nMainland, as a place of scenic beauty.<\/p>\n
This is the place where John van der Sterren used to spend
\nholidays in his younger years, trying his hand at painting, a
\nhobby that he nurtured along with playing music. The current
\nexhibition is meant as a nostalgic journey, precisely to the
\nplaces that had thrilled him then.<\/p>\n
For those ignorant of the actual locations, the paintings may
\nnot give any clue as to which country they refer to, nor is there
\nmuch difference in the representation of different places
\nsuggested by the titles.<\/p>\n
What most people will remember though, are the bold lines
\nindicating the contours of roads, mountains, clouds or vegetation
\nin desolate landscapes, in colors reminiscent of the fauvists and
\nthe lingering notion of dampened sunshine.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand citizen with Dutch heritage John van der
\nSterren was born in Sukabumi in 1938. He left Indonesia after
\nWorld War II, and headed for New Zealand, where his parents
\nultimately built a new life.<\/p>\n
Working for an international company brought him back to
\nIndonesia, the land of his childhood. While he took up more
\nserious painting in 1992, when Duta Fine Arts gallery Didier
\nHamel spurred his artistic potential, his main profession lay in
\nanother field, which he was reluctant to expand on. Painting has
\nremained just a hobby, something he does for fun, he insists.<\/p>\n
While nothing in the exhibition reminds us of the early days
\nof New Zealand, one cannot help remembering that the first
\nEuropean explorer to sail into New Zealand waters was a navigator
\nby the name of Abel Janszoon Tasman.<\/p>\n
Like van der Sterren, he was a Dutchman. The year was 1642,
\nand the New Zealand annals recount that the first encounter
\nbetween Maori and Europeans was violent, leading to bloodshed.
\nAlthough Tasman was able to partly chart the coastline, he had to
\nleave New Zealand without having had the occasion to set foot
\nashore.<\/p>\n
The coincidence also brings the awareness of John van der
\nSterren's lucky fate over three-and-a-half centuries later. He
\nwas able to return to that part of New Zealand, which he says he
\nhas loved most, the South Island and particularly Central Otago.<\/p>\n
Living in Indonesia for 33 years and in New Zealand for 34
\nyears in addition to numerous trips around the world, John van
\nder Sterren has evidently created his own distinctive style,
\nunaffected by either the ambience of the countries where he spent
\nhis life.<\/p>\n
With a few exceptions, his numerous exhibitions were held in
\nBali and Java.<\/p>\n
in box:
\nReturn to the Mainland
\nA Journey to the South Island of New Zealand
\nExhibition of paintings by John van der Sterren
\nFour Seasons Hotel Jakarta
\nthrough Oct. 10<\/p>\n
In 1642 the first of the European explorers, Abel Janszoon Tasman
\nfrom Holland, sails into New Zealand waters. In 1642, New Zealand
\nwas explored by Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator.
\nNew Zealand, about 1,250 mi (2,012 km) southeast of Australia,
\nconsists of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying
\nislands so scattered that they range from the tropical to the
\nantarctic. The country is the size of Colorado. New Zealand's two
\nmain components are the North Island and the South Island,
\nseparated by Cook Strait. The North Island (44,281 sq mi; 115,777
\nsq km) is 515 mi (829 km) long and volcanic in its south-central
\npart. This area contains many hot springs and beautiful geysers.
\nSouth Island (58,093 sq mi; 151,215 sq km) has the Southern Alps
\nalong its west coast, with Mount Cook (12,316 ft; 3754 m) the
\nhighest point.<\/p>\n
Some four centuries ago, the Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman
\nsailed into the waters of what is now called New Zealand. To be
\nprecise, it was in 1642.
\nNew Zealand, a country about 1,250 mi (2,012 km) southeast of
\nAustralia is often promoted as a place where nature's most
\npowerful elements combine to create a unique and enchanting
\nenvironment. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman must have heard
\nabout<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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