Artist recounts development of cultural scene

Text and photo by Sirikit Syah

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Surabaya-based artist Amang Rachman sees the future of art in Indonesia with optimism. "The cultural life in this New Order era is much better than before but it still needs improvement," he said one evening at his home here.

He said the cultural atmosphere before the New Order government, which came to power in late 1966, was not good because there were many limitations and conflicts occurred frequently among different groups.

But the current cultural atmosphere is still not perfect. He said it is being maintained well by the government despite the small budget it has allocated for cultural development.

"Budgeting is a product of thoughts and there must, therefore, be an idea before you talk about budgets. I guess we, artists, must work harder and think better of our own plan for the development of the cultural sector."

During his profession as a well-known painter, he has never found difficulty in obtaining exhibition permits. "I don't know about others but for me, I have no problem at all," said Amang, the father of four children and grandfather of four grandchildren.

Born in 1931 in Surabaya, Amang spent most of his childhood in Ampel, in Surabaya, in the neighboring town of Sidoarjo and in Madura. He wanted to be a poet and he still writes poetry. "My partner was Muhammad Ali (a senior poet and short story writer from Surabaya). But he was better than me. H.B. Yasin wrote about his works and paid no attention to mine. I then became more serious in painting."

Among 13 brothers and sisters Amang is the only one interested in art. He dropped out of elementary school, where he spent most of his time in the libraries of various schools. He couldn't say who, specifically, had taught him to paint but he mentioned many names.

"I saw famous painters, like Affandi and Sudjojono. I made mental notes and comparison and I practiced at home."

Some critics wrote that Amang didn't know technique. Others said he was the master of techniques. "I have educated myself. I think whatever people say about me could be right. I never disagree with people's comments about me or my works. I appreciate their opinions."

Life seems easy for him now. He has a nice house, a very caring wife, whom he married in 1961, and healthy children and grandchildren. He looks pretty healthy himself. "It is like this only recently," he said, admitting that now people buy his works at good prices. He recalled exchanging one painting for 20 kg of rice during difficult times. He also recalled eating on friends' charity at various warung (food stall). "Many times I left my wife at a warung because I was too excited talking with friends and when they left I went with them, forgetting my faithful wife. She had to deal with the warung owners. Thank God, she's still here to enjoy what I now have."

He likes living in Surabaya, though he admits that the cultural scene is bad, incomparable with those of Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

"There is a lot to do for Surabaya," he said, complaining about the minimal cultural facilities in the city, said to be the second largest in Indonesia. He dreams of a school of art in Surabaya. He also dreams of having a private museum.

Amang still thinks of doing one of two things when getting a new idea or inspiration: whether to write it as a poem, or to paint it. "Usually I'd rather write but end up painting."

Amang has exhibited his works in many places in Indonesia and in some cities abroad. People admire his calligraphy paintings. Now, he paints mostly the supernatural world, surrealism, usually with himself as the object. His paintings are dominated by the color blue.

"Blue has always been my obsession. It is the color of quietness, of peace. I remember my grandfather often told me about blue heaven."

It has taken Amang a long time to reach his present position as one of Indonesia's prominent painters; one of the few from Surabaya. At the age of 66, he still has lots of energy, endless ideas and inspiration and is optimistic about the future.