Young artists display abstract works<\/p>\n
Boudewijn Brands, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When visiting Bali, the country's most popular tourist
\ndestination, one may stumble across some abstract paintings and
\nnotice that the prices are sometimes too high.<\/p>\n
Some people even comment on abstract art, saying: \"I can do
\nthat myself\", or \"My (baby) daughter\/son, could make that too\"
\nand so on.<\/p>\n
The paintings are expensive as they position themselves as
\n\"progressive\" art from Australia or Singapore. However, in order
\nto make good abstract art, one needs to master his or her skill;
\none must master the lines and application of color in order to
\nachieve the desired emotional effect.<\/p>\n
The exhibition: Colors, Rhythm, Energy, at Rumah Seni AIR,
\nexposes the meaning of these words through the main
\ncharacteristics of each participating artist's style.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, which finishes on May 27, focuses on abstract
\nworks which curators hope will make the visitor ponder on what
\nthe artist is trying to express.<\/p>\n
The gallery is taking a risk here, as most people interested
\nin art rarely seem to appreciate abstract art and prefer to pay
\nhefty sums for beautiful realistic works like pieces by Willem
\nHofker.<\/p>\n
On show at Rumah Seni AIR are works by three relatively young
\nartists. The only female painter is Zaira Adilla from Jakarta.
\nShe was born in 1976 and studied at LaSalle Singapore Institute
\nof the Arts (SIA).<\/p>\n
Her works have, according to her, some influence of Kandinski
\nand Basquiat. She also refers to influences by Twombly and Tapie.
\nBesides colors, you may find forms and letters in her work.<\/p>\n
As she says: \"My work focuses on the quality of color, line,
\nmarks and texture, that will engage the spirit and emotion of the
\nviewer, evoking a sense of mystery, excitement or joy.\"<\/p>\n
She likes to play with colors but not as children do: the
\nquality and freshness of color is not only important, but
\nplacement of a specific color has equal importance.<\/p>\n
Zaira considers her work abstract representational painting.<\/p>\n
The other two artists have studied at the Indonesian Art
\nInstitute (ISI) in Yogyakarta: Nahum Suwarsita (born in
\nYogyakarta, 1965) and Sigit Fitri Nugroho (born in Kediri, 1971).<\/p>\n
Nahum just participated in an exhibition at Gelaran Gallery in
\nYogyakarta, a gallery owned by and mainly showing young artists'
\nworks and now considered a good alternative contemporary art
\ngallery in the south of Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
He will also have an exhibition in the Netherlands in August
\nand September.<\/p>\n
Nahum's work is generally abstract and the inspiration comes
\nmainly from the rhythm of nature. He has made abstract pieces
\nsince 1992, as he says figurative works \"bored\" him (and doesn't
\na photograph do a much better job in reproducing a realistic
\nlandscape?).<\/p>\n
The title of one of the paintings is Landscape II inspired by
\nan evening under the full moon. Your association with a full moon
\nwill depend on what you experienced. It may be an evening with a
\nloved one or cows in a field. In Indonesia, it can also be an
\nevening in a mountainous landscape with high trees; and, as Nahum
\nsays, \"with damp rising from the soil\". I am sure you can find
\nthis element in this painting here.<\/p>\n
Since his stay in Jakarta in 1997 and 1998 he has sometimes
\nincluded figurative elements. Examples are Blue City and Melintas
\nKota Asing (Passing an unknown city), a painting selected in the
\nPhilip Morris competition in 2000.<\/p>\n
Sigit's works are inspired by nature as well. However, in this
\nparticular case it is the arid and dry landscape close to the
\nsmall South Javanese coastal town Baron. He would go there by
\nhimself and observe and experience nature at different times of
\nthe day and year.<\/p>\n
The results are relatively \"quiet\" paintings showing the flow
\nof water and the sun rays at different moments of the day.<\/p>\n
An example is: Sisa Rawa-rawa (Leftover of the swamp) which,
\naccording to him, depicts the dry and still firm soil, for the
\nfirst time wet as the rainy season begins and before it is worked
\non by the farmer.<\/p>\n
In other paintings he tries to capture the \"feel\" of nature;
\nthe way the moon shines when the weather turns from the dry to
\nwet season.<\/p>\n
He works both with knife and brush and applies usually \"warm\"
\nand natural colors. Sigit's works will be sent to Singapore after
\nthe exhibition where they will be offered for rent by
\nwww.sylviesart.com.<\/p>",
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