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.