Bali in the eyes of an Austrian

JAKARTA (JP): Bali and its beauty has inspired both local and foreign artists' works. And Austrian surrealist artist Helmut Kand is no exception.

Admittedly an admirer of Bali's landscape and religious ceremonies, which he depicts a lot in his paintings, Kand is holding an exposition of his latest 60 paintings at the new Regent Hotel on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta.

Kand, who said that his works record everything he feels, calls his first exhibition in Jakarta, which will continue to June 30, 1,000 Abandoned Wishes, Helmut Kand: Poetic Surrealism.

Kand's works, which are dominated by bright colors, to show his optimistic way of thinking and preference for the warmness of Bali, which he visits twice a year from the Greek Island of Ios where he lives for four months every year.

"And, amazingly many of my paintings on Bali were bought by Austrians who have never been in Bali before," Kand told The Jakarta Post.

As a result of his intensive work on Bali and collaboration with Suteja Neka, founder of Neka Museum in Ubud, Bali, Kand has been rewarded with a membership in the exclusive "Foreign Born Indonesian Artists" circle.

The artist, who said that his works are influenced by Picasso, Dali and the Viennese School of Fantastic Realists, is not only known for his paintings on canvas, but also on cloth, banners and wine labels. (als)