Artists turn the ordinary into art
Artists turn the ordinary into art
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
Works of art do not always represent complicated subjects; an
artist can imbue ordinary objects and scenes with new
significance, even those daily concerns that have become so
commonplace we have ceased to notice them, such as our eating
habits.
The Affandi Museum's "Threshold" exhibition features six
painters and their exploration into mundane activities and the
human condition. The artists -- Agapetus A Kristiandana, Edo
Pillu, Joko Sulistiono, Redy Rahadian, Syahrizal Pahlevi and
Wahyu Gunawango -- go beyond a merely realistic depiction of
everyday life and breaches a philosophical insight into humanity.
Pahlevi cuts and paints hardboard into portraits of ordinary
people that crosses his path.
Harmanto, for example, is a close-up of an employee at the
Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta (BBY) cultural center, while Marjuki
(35), portrays a frame shop owner, complete with address and
Marjuki's cell phone number.
In another work, At Pugung, Tanggamus, Meet Dr. Herman,
Pahlevi paints a portrait of his younger brother, Herman
Syahriar, who is the head of the Pugung Community Health Center
in Tanggamus.
Through his paintings, it seems he is promoting as well as
showing respect to his subjects, who have played some key
contributing role in their disparate professions. Harmanto, for
example, is a prominent figure in publicizing events organized by
the BBY. Marjuki helps artists -- like Pahlevi himself -- by
providing fine frames for their paintings, while Herman provides
medical care to local residents.
Through his work, Pahlevi reminds viewers that sometimes, we
fail to notice the kindness and good deeds of ordinary and
perhaps unimportant people around us, no matter how great their
contribution.
The same theme of exploring simple, daily and seemingly
insignificant subjects is also reflected in Wahyu Gunawan's work,
Bladhog Wicaksono, which depicts a fat man enjoying a cornucopian
banquet.
Local art critic Suwarno Wisetrotomo says the painting shows
the Wahyu's perception of eating -- that eating is not just a
routine ritual to satisfy one's hunger, and also has a cultural
and religious significance.
Eating, Wahyu believes, is a representation of desire, of how
to eat, what to eat and how much someone should eat, Suwarno
said.
"Eating, therefore, could be a reflection of someone's
identity or moral existence," he said.
The title, Bladhog Wicaksono, is contradictory, as bladhog in
Javanese means voracious or glutton, while wicaksono means wise.
So Bladhog Wicaksono raises the question as to how a voracious
man could act or behave wisely.
Wahyu's other works that explore the theme of consumption
include Aku Makan Maka Aku Ada (I eat, therefore I exist) and The
Good Servant.
According to curator Kuss Indarto, Wahyu's consumption-themed
paintings are interesting because they reflect how the artist
reexamines "eating" in juxtaposing its symbolic and exact
meanings.
"The threshold between the two meanings is set out on a table
to invite appreciation from those viewers who take a bite of it."
Kuss said the word "threshold" was deliberately chosen as the
title of the exhibition to describe a transitional space between
two positions or places, where creation to distinguish the two
from each other can occur.
"In this, artists are assumed to be entities capable of
managing the world through their work, their free souls and
personal interpretations of a given theme," Kuss said.
Basically, said critic Suwarno, the six artists' work delve
into the problem of reality and how they react to it.
"In general, the six artists are trying to discuss a
transitional situation they have seen, felt or experienced, which
has the potential for self-enlightenment in creating art or to
enlighten others through their work," he said.
"Threshold" will be held until Saturday, 24 April, at the
Affandi Museum, Jl. Laksda Adisucipto 167, Yogyakarta, Central
Java. For more information as to this and upcoming events, the
museum can be contacted at (0274) 562593.