Artistic eloquence by three aquarellists

Artistic eloquence by three aquarellists

By Pavan Kapoor

JAKARTA (JP): The scope of the fluid and fascinating medium of
watercolor are displayed at the hands of three senior
aquarellists, Benny Setiawan, Sandy Leonardo and Lie Tjoen Tjay.

They have put around 50 new works on display at Gallery
Sriyanto on Jl. Gedung Hijau Raya No. 36, in Pondok Indah, South
Jakarta. Entitled "3 Aquarellists", the exhibition is the
culmination of an art form that presents an enthralling journey
for art lovers. The exhibition lasts until Aug. 28.

Shintawati Purborini, the owner and manager of the gallery,
chose the combination of the three aquarellists with great care.

"We believe a painting is an artistic visual which is a
combination of good esthetic sense, artistic capability and an
inborn feeling and sensitivity towards life accentuated with the
discipline of technique," she said.

Each of the three artists have evolved an individualistic
style and all three share a fascinating talent with water-based
colors.

Lie's work can be categorized as meditative while Benny's may
be said to be decorative. Sandy chooses to be illustrative and
some of his works could also be described as narrative.

Aquarellists are innately disciplined watercolorists and as
Benny Setiawan says, "watercolor is a medium which needs immense
concentration and specific technique to control the volume of
water on the brush so as to create the characteristic elements of
a water color painting."

Benny was born in Jakarta and was inspired to give expression
to his artistic talents by the milieu in which he lived. He has
been painting since 1950 and has worked as well as studied with
the Yin Hua art group under Lee Man Fong.

Benny practiced his artistic talents on cloth as a batik
designer and his present watercolors are distinctly evolved from
the same background. The intricate batik hand is perhaps the
inspiration behind Benny's individualistic style and clearly
apparent in the color gradations and vivid hues of his art.

Most of Benny's works draw their inspiration from the daily
routine of ordinary people. Kios bunga (Flower kiosk) has the
florist holding a bunch of flowers out to passers-by with the
flowers forming a riot of colors in the background. In the same
vein is Pasar Burung (Bird market) and some others works, such as
Jual Celengan (Selling piggy banks).

Another favorite theme of Benny is landscapes with an
intriguing difference. A mountain scene from somewhere in Java
consist of hills and domes in graded hues of Indian pink, vivid
turquoise seas with tones to depict waves and varying sea levels.
Green, green hills and ocher yellow skies, all magnetize the
observer into a visual feast.

Pemandangan Ciwidei (Ciwidei landscape), Gunung Kapur (Mt.
Kapur) and Danau Ciburui I and Danau Ciburui II are some of
Benny's exotic landscapes.

Benny is also a teacher who believes in projecting scenes of
everyday living and objects so as to enhance the ornamentalism of
his art style. It is here where perhaps Benny's mastery of
creativity lies -- creating a familiar profile while adding a
touch of deformity and naivete to suit his style.

Sandy, who has around 20 paintings on display in the
exhibition excels in illustrating figurative themes of men, women
and children woven together in a tapestry of daily life - farmers
harvesting golden wheat, women in the market and children at
play.

Born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Sandy has been painting since
six years of age and has been a student of great artists, such as
Popo Iskandar and Barli. He also learnt Chinese brush painting
from Chiang Yu Tie and Ten Tien Wen in Bandung. He has exhibited
his works both at home and abroad.

Particularly eye-catching is Pesta Galungan Anak-anak
(Children's Galungan party), in which Sandy fascinates the
observer with his beautifully proportioned figures. The people
observing the lion dance progress in the forefront while they are
almost in a hazy monotone in the background so as to create an
enigmatic focus on the lively scene ahead. The intricate details
of the lion head and the feet that are sticking out from under it
show the mastery of realism that Sandy has acquired.

Panen I (Harvest I) and Panen II, Pasar (Market) are crowded
paintings which could almost be passed off as photographs with
careful attention being paid to shadows and the rustic expression
of the figures.

Sandy's favorite theme is the Balinese people and culture.
Ogoh Ogoh, Penari Legong (Legong dancer), Penari Kuda Lumping
(Kuda Lumping dancer) and Ngerumpi (Chatting) are some of his
best works.

In Ngerumpi, Sandy has depicted two young girls dressed in
sarongs who are standing in what seems to be an isolated corner
and whispering to each other. The conspiracy being hatched
between the two lends the work an air of intrigue. The colors of
their sarongs are bright and one would think Sandy has indulged
in using oil paints but, on closer inspection, the vivacity of
the watercolors is very clear and impressive.

Aquarellist Lie Tjoen Tjay also has his artistic roots in
Chinese brush painting and since then has evolved his many
artistic talents into a singular style that very often needs no
introduction. The volume of fused watercolor that still looks wet
under the glass of the frames and the tiny details of houses or
boats to give relativity are very distinctive of Lie's style.

Lie started painting in 1950 with the Yin Hua organization.
The year 1971 saw him cross borders and begin to exhibit his
paintings abroad while at the same time continuing to
exhaustively exhibit his work at home in Jakarta.

He has exhibited his work in the Biennale Seni Lukis Dewan
Kesenian Jakarta and also in the Balai Budaya and Gallery
Linggar.

Lie feels that watercolor is a medium which is very complex
and difficult, yet has limitless opportunities. Baptized by the
technique of Chinese brush painting, the wet-on-wet modus creates
a multitude of interesting artworks into which Lie's style has
evolved. According to art critic Agus Dermawan, "Lie's art
reminds us of Chinese painting maestros Liu Haisu or Li Kuchan."

Some of his works are Ducks resting, Perahu Nelayan
(Fisherman's boat) Pemadangan (Scenery) and Kampung Nelayan
(Fishermen's kampong).

Gembala (Shepherd) is an eye-catching work, which is painted
in Lie's characteristic style but which holds center court
because of the use of warm chocolate browns and sunflower
yellows. While the brown creates an oozy feeling as if wet paint
has been dropped on blotting paper and let spread out into
wrinkles and capillaries, the yellow creates a sharp contrast of
a horizon and forms the undeniable focus of the painting.

Bali is a universally favorite theme and does not escape Lie's
attention either. Some of Lie's notable works on Bali are Odalan
and Dua Wanita Bali (Two Balinese Women).

For lovers of watercolor paintings, "3 aquarellists" promises
quite a treat.