Solichin uses art, faith and logic to heal patients<\/p>\n
By T. Sima Gunawan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Art transcends consciousness to allow people to
\nfind peace and spiritual happiness.<\/p>\n
For Ahmad Afif Solichin, an artist and healer, art means love
\nand is the source of happiness. Solichin expresses his love in
\nhis "spiritual drawings", which he makes for his patients.<\/p>\n
Before the healing process starts, Solichin makes a rajah
\n(drawing of human anatomy) to give spiritual confidence to both
\nthe healer and the patient.<\/p>\n
The rajah is full of symbolic circles and lines. Arabic words
\nfrom the Koran also grace the drawing.<\/p>\n
Some drawings are black and white, others are colorful.<\/p>\n
Solichin also works on canvas using oil and water colors. Like
\nhis drawings, the paintings are full of baffling symbols.<\/p>\n
"Spirituality can't be explained," he said.<\/p>\n
Many things about Solichin can't be explained. One of them is
\nhis power to remove tumors from fully conscious patients.<\/p>\n
One of the patients, Suwarno, 36, said he did not feel any
\npain during the operation. He didn't see any blood, either.<\/p>\n
"The tumor was bigger than this," he said, raising his left
\nfist.<\/p>\n
Suwarno and Solichin were in Jakarta late last month at the
\nopening of Dharma Gallery, which sells Solichin's art.<\/p>\n
Suwarno, a resident of Kraci, a small town near Batangan in
\nCentral Java, said the tumor had grown in his back for six years
\nwhen Solichin came to the town in 1993.<\/p>\n
Suwarno, who strongly believed that Solichin could remove the
\ntumor, didn't hesitate when Solichin said he would operate to
\nremove the tumor.<\/p>\n
The operation took place at midnight and lasted 35 minutes.<\/p>\n
"I was totally cured," Suwarno said.<\/p>\n
Asked how much he had to pay, Suwarno said the healer did not
\nset any tariff, leaving it to the patient's ability.<\/p>\n
Born in Demak, Central Java, in 1973, Solichin claims he
\nbecame a healer when he was nine. He apparently inherited the
\ntalent from his parents and his grandfather. Although his only
\nsister also has the gift of healing, Solichin is the only one in
\nthe family who draws and paints. He started drawing and painting
\nin the third grade.<\/p>\n
Solichin said he draws and paints for "social purposes".<\/p>\n
"My art is the art of love, the source of happiness. Everyone,
\nnot only Moslems, can enjoy my works," he said.<\/p>\n
Solichin works very fast. He can draw a rajah in a few
\nseconds.<\/p>\n
"You might not believe it, but I can finish painting on a
\ncanvas of that size within ten minutes," he said, pointing to a
\npainting measuring over one-meter wide and two-meters long.<\/p>\n
He said he produces 800 drawings and paintings in three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Belgium<\/p>\n
Solichin is now preparing to go to Belgium for his first major
\ndrawing exhibition. It will take place in the Museum of
\nContemporary Art in Gent between Dec. 4 and Jan. 14.<\/p>\n
Quoting the museum director, Jan Hoet, Solichin said that
\nEuropeans want to see alternative art because they have been
\nsaturated with conservative art.<\/p>\n
"I have sent 300 of my works to Belgium," he said.<\/p>\n
Solichin said his drawings support the healing process by
\ngiving spiritual confidence. The different symbols relate to the
\npatient's conditions. He has designed more than 2,000 symbols.<\/p>\n
Solichin studies the symbols, human anatomy and traditional
\nmedicine from old books in his family's library. Some of the
\nbooks are written in Arabic, Kawi (old Javanese) and Sanskirt. he
\nalso gets advice from his parents and grandparents<\/p>\n
He constantly travels and sometimes sleeps at the roadside.<\/p>\n
"I need freedom. I don't want to stay in a 'golden nest'.
\nWandering is important to keep the balance in my life," he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
He said that once he walked for two-and-a-half months, from
\nMadura, an island in East Java, to Aceh on the northern tip of
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
Solichin specializes in healing patients who are partially
\nparalyzed from hypertension. But he says he also treats people
\nwith cancer, tumors, leukemia and liver problems.<\/p>\n
"I am not a dukun (faith healer). I also use logic in the
\nhealing process," he said.<\/p>\n
He gives the patients antibiotics and some traditional
\nmedicines, including Chinese medicines and herbal concoctions he
\nformulates himself.<\/p>\n
There are three crucial elements in the healing process: God,
\nthe patient and the medicine, Solichin insisted.<\/p>\n
Solichin was a vegetarian for over seven years, but started to
\neat meat and fish again in 1990.<\/p>\n
"I have to be really fit for my activities," he said.<\/p>\n
"I feel exhausted... my brain is worn out every time I finish
\nhealing a patient. The healing process takes a lot of spiritual
\nenergy."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/solichin-uses-art-faith-and-logic-to-heal-patients-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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