Art lecturers' exhibition: Modern works inspired by traditions

Art lecturers' exhibition: Modern works inspired by traditions

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java

Rebellious students have long used the comeback, "You don't know it all". Now, 39 art lecturers from Bali are admitting it, as they set out on a quest for knowledge and to market their own work.

The group will hold exhibitions along the way, and humbly await input as they open their minds and broaden their palettes, so to speak.

Their first group show titled Jejak Tradisi Dalam Ekspresi Modern II (Traces of Tradition in Modern Expression II), opened on Sept. 5.

The week-long exhibition of 74 works -- held at the H. Widayat Museum on Jl. Letnan Tukiyat 32, Mungkid, here -- includes 40 paintings, 22 mixed-media works, five ceramic pieces, four photographs, two sculptures and an ironwork installation. All bear Balinese touches.

I Wayan Karja's abstract oil painting Horizon Hijau (Green Horizon), which measures 280 cm by 180 cm, explores the mandala, a Hindu or Buddhist geometric design that symbolizes the universe and is often used in Balinese art, although also as an aid to mediation.

I Wayan Suardana's mixed media work Terbuang (acrylic on wood, 100 cm by 40 cm, 2004) recalls a Balinese ritual, whereby the traditional cake sarat is an integral element, yet discarded once the ceremony is over.

"It's very difficult for us to avoid tradition in Bali. Everything is tradition there," said head of Denpasar's School of Fine Arts I Wayan Karja, who is also curator of the exhibition, in explaining its title. The same title was used for a show held in December at Taman Budaya Yogyakarta's Societet Building in Yogyakarta.

According to Karja, the old Balinese view of the universe, as orderly, harmonious and systematic, is a constant theme of the island's art. In everyday life, the Balinese still strive to achieve balance and harmony with a desire for liberation from earthly evils, meaning that tradition is used as a guide for modern living.

Traces of tradition are also apparent in other works, such as I Gusti Ngurah Putra's Tri Sakti (The Powerful Three, oil on canvas, 70 cm by 60 cm, 2004), I Wayan Kondra's Topeng (Mask, mixed media, 60 cm by 50 cm, 2003), I Made Berata's Pasrah (Submission, acrylic on wood, 40 cm by 100 cm, 2003), I Gede Putrajaya's Mediasi I (Meditation I, oil on canvas, 140 cm by 80 cm, 2004), I Ketut Adi Kesuma's Topeng I (Mask I, frangipani wood, 40 cm by 50 cm, 2004), I Nyoman Dana's Barong (airbrushed bronze, 50 cm by 50 cm, 2004), I Gusti Putu Mertana Mendala's Rejang Dewa (oil on canvas, 90 cm by 70 cm, 2003), and I Komang Arba Wirawan's Naga Keras (Harsh Dragon, coated photographic paper, 90 cm by 70 cm, 2004).

Other works exhibited include I Nyoman Marsa's Pasar (Market, oil on canvas, 60 cm by 70 cm, 2003), I Nyoman Sukaya's Pura Beji (oil on canvas, 100 cm by 100 cm, 2004), I Wayan Suarjana's Pada Saat Putus Cinta (suar wood, 83 cm by 44 cm, 2004), I Wayan Darmawan's Tentang Punakawan (oil on canvas, 70 cm by 120 cm, 2004), Anis Raharjo's Ekspresi Kecak, coated photographic paper, 30 cm by 80 cm, 2004), I Wayan Kun Adnyana's The Traverse (oil on canvas, 140 cm by 100 cm, 2004), I Made Saryana's Evolusi Gajah (oil on canvas, 150 cm by 100 cm, 2004), I Made Mertanadi's Guci Pecah (ceramic, 40 cm by 65 cm, 2003), and I Wayan Mudra's Wanita (ceramic, 15 cm by 35 cm, 2003).

Karja said the word "modern" in the title referred to Balinese contemporary arts.

"It is deliberately used to underline the importance of preserving and revitalizing cultural values inherited from our ancestors. That way, participants in the exhibition will remember that traditional arts can be used as a commodity, with which to face the modern art world that is so fiercely competitive,

"Sometimes, when we define our values, we refer to modern guides rather than old ones. In fact, "old" values are still inspirational,

"The same theme -- traces of the old in the new -- will be used for our exhibition held next month in Puri Galeri, Malang, East Java", said Karja, adding that, in the future, the art school would hold at least one exhibition outside Bali every year.

Karja said that this would push lecturers-cum-artists, such as himself, to not just teach, but to keep on creating and improving their work. It would also enable them to receive feedback from a wider audience.

"Bali has been 'it' for most of us. We have shown our work in all the museums and galleries there. We need to exhibit our art elsewhere, to enrich ourselves," lecturer I Wayan Suardana said.