Martha's labor of love<\/p>\n
Martha Gunawan, the owner and director of Galeri Mon Decor, has
\nbeen instrumental in the publication of the book telling Renato
\nCristiano's complete life story.<\/p>\n
In recruiting one of the best writers and the most outstanding
\npublishers, obviously no cost was too much to obtain the best
\nresults.<\/p>\n
So, of all painters, why did she select Renato Cristiano?<\/p>\n
Martha, an architect by training who founded her gallery 15
\nyears ago, says she was initially struck by the graceful
\ncombination of East and West in his paintings, particularly by
\nhis distinct treatment of Balinese women.<\/p>\n
As she learned more about him, she discovered that he was
\namong the most important expatriate artists who had lived and
\nworked in Bali, a man whose works caused a stir in the European
\nart scene.<\/p>\n
She eventually came to understand why so few people in the
\nIndonesian artistic scene of the 1990s were aware of his works.<\/p>\n
\"He is a person who is very introverted and avoids mingling
\nwith the self-promoting crowd and very careful in giving his
\ntrust to someone.\"<\/p>\n
Martha organized a solo exhibition in 1996, and others in 1997
\nand 2001, convinced of the significance of bringing his works to
\na wider public here (she is currently holding an exhibition of 27
\nof his most recent works at her gallery at Jl. Gunung Sahari,
\nCentral Jakarta, until Nov. 13).<\/p>\n
Martha contacted author Bruce Carpenter about two years ago,
\nthen asked her daughter Monica, who was studying art restoration
\nin Florence, to do some more research about Cristiano.<\/p>\n
Monica found that his works were hanging alongside Picasso,
\nMonet and other celebrated artists in the MoMa New York.
\nFortunately, Cristiano, now an octogenarian, believed in Martha
\nGunawan's good intentions, and it is thus that the book could
\ncome to fruition. -- Carla Bianpoen<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/marthas-labor-of-love-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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