Artist recounts development of cultural scene

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.