Young, old sculptors met in a rare exhibit<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Magelang, Central Java<\/p>\n
A joint exhibition of the work of 21 Indonesian modern sculptors
\nis now on display at Langgeng Gallery, Magelang, Central Java.
\nThe event can be seen as an important and rare event considering
\nthe wide range of different generations of sculptors that have
\ntaken part in it.<\/p>\n
The fact that sculpture is often considered Indonesia's
\nsecond-class fine art after painting is another point that adds
\nmore value to the exhibition, where some 50 works are on display.<\/p>\n
Veteran sculptor G. Sidharta Soegiyo, an artist who pioneered
\nthe country's modern sculpture, and young sculptors, who have
\njust finished their study at art schools, are taking part in the
\nexhibition sponsored by young art collector Deddy Irianto.<\/p>\n
The youngest sculptor, Joko Dwi Avianto, a fresh graduate of
\nthe fine art and design school at Bandung Institute of Technology
\n(ITB), is exhibiting his striking work, titled Keseleo,
\n(Javanese, which means sprained) using bamboo as a medium.<\/p>\n
He bends some lengths of bamboo and combines them in a finely
\ncurved composition using ropes made of bamboo to tie them into
\nhis final work. The way he bends, twists and rotates the medium
\ncreates the strong impression that the young sculptor has managed
\nto conquer the natural medium, bamboo, in a subtle way.<\/p>\n
\"It is amazing. The work suggests the strength of human power,
\nwhich is executed in a gentle manner toward nature,\" said noted
\nplaywright W.S. Rendra on the sidelines of the opening ceremony
\non Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
Veteran sculptor Sidharta, with his two bronze pieces, Leleson
\nand Ayam Jantan III, shows his class as perceived within the
\ncountry's fine art circles. He captures the influence of delicate
\nand classical sculptures in his work. Leleson depicts a nude,
\nmiddle-aged woman with a sad face, lying on the floor while her
\nright arm supports her. The rough skin of the figure immediately
\nindicates that the woman bears a heavy burden in her life.<\/p>\n
Working with bronze as the medium, Dolorosa Sinaga shows her
\nexceptional skill in expressing her emotion, feelings and ideas
\nthrough sculpture. One of her two sculptures, Dance of Solitude,
\ndepicts a dancing figure that is unrealistic in its form. A
\nsmaller bulge under the figure's leg looks like a smaller figure
\nthat is suckling on the breast of the larger.<\/p>\n
Its dark color conveys an enigmatic feeling to spectators. The
\ncombination of its smooth and rough surfaces embodies
\nsimultaneously the tenderness and roughness of her emotions.<\/p>\n
Born in Sibolga in 1952, Dolorosa developed her skill in fine
\nart at the Jakarta Institute of Arts (IKJ), St. Martin's School
\nof Art in London and the U.S. Piero Art Foundry Berkeley. In
\nwords of the exhibition's curator Mikke Susanto, Dolorosa is a
\nsculptor who has narrative and associative tendency in her works.<\/p>\n
Young sculptor Budi Kustarto, meanwhile, creates a realistic
\nfigure that is a life-cast of his own body in his work, Lelah
\n(exhausted), depicting a half-naked man who carries his severed
\nhead in his arms. Lelah conveys the strong message of a state of
\nmental rather than physical exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Another female sculptor, Iriantine Karnaya, who studied
\nsculpture at ITB, displays her maturity in the three-dimension-
\nform of sculpture. One of her works, Ganesha (elephant), made of
\nbronze, is clear evidence of her mature technical skill as well
\nas long experience in working with many different media. At first
\nglance the sculpture seems to be an abstract form. Looking at it
\ncloser, however, it is clearly seen as the top of an elephant's
\nhead, although it is not a wholly realistic depiction.<\/p>\n
Hedi Hariyanto, a sculptor known for his unconventional
\npreference in choosing media, presents two works that both
\nconfirm the soubriquet. Using the traditional food, tempeh, Hedi
\ncreates many small sculptures titled Tempe, I Love You which look
\nlike a number of toy aircraft, cars, etc. It seems somehow to
\nconvey his critique of the country's sociopolitical situation.<\/p>\n
Others who have participated in the exhibition are noted
\nBalinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta, Sunaryo, Ichwan Noor and German-
\nborn Indonesian sculptors Pintor Sirait and Rita Widagdo. The
\nlast two studied fine art at the San Francisco Arts Institute,
\nU.S. and Staatliche Akademie der Bildendd Kunstee, Suttgart,
\nGermany respectively.<\/p>\n
Others are Adi Gunawan, Rudi Mantofani, Akmal Jaya, Ali Umar,
\nAwan P. Simatupang, Komroden Haro and Yuli Prayitno. These young
\nsculptors are graduates of the Yogyakarta-based Indonesian
\nInstitute of Art (ISI), except for Simatupang who is a graduate
\nof ITB.<\/p>\n
Rather than searching for historical continuity in Indonesia's
\nmodern sculpture in the exhibition, curators Anusapati and Mikke
\nSusanto have used the perspective of sculptors' expression
\nthrough different media.<\/p>\n
That is why the curators have branded the exhibition Mc(row)
\nMedia.<\/p>\n
\"It is our play on words on micromedia. Mc(row) Media can also
\nbe explained this way: Mc is an analog for globalization such as
\nMcWorld, row means quarrel and media means the media used by
\nsculptors,\" said Mikke.<\/p>\n
Whether or not the exhibition will be able to encourage a
\nstronger spirit among Indonesian sculptors remains a big
\nquestion. The presence of many cultural activists and
\ncommentators during the exhibition's opening ceremony, such as
\nformer Tempo magazine chief editor Goenawan Muhamad, poet Sitok
\nSrengenge and cultural activist Tanto Mendut bare not guaranteed
\nto make the exhibition such a success that the sculptor's
\nlivelihoods are assured.<\/p>\n
The fate of Indonesian sculpture should be in the hands of
\nsculptors and the public, not with art collectors or businessmen
\nlike Deddy Irianto.<\/p>\n
Mc(row) Media exhibition is held at Langgeng Gallery in Magelang,
\nCentral Java. It was opened on Dec. 18 and will run until Jan.
\n12, 2004.<\/p>",
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