Can part-timers be regarded as 'proper' artists?

Can part-timers be regarded as 'proper' artists?

Boudewijn Brands, Contributor, Yogyakarta

If you love to paint but cannot live from painting, what do you
do?

Well, many get a job and paint in their spare time. Are there
any galleries that want to exhibit their work? Mostly not;
instead they are stigmatized as hobbyists or amateurs. A number
of painters in Yogyakarta have organized themselves into a
group that calls itself Sabtusiang (Saturday lunchtime).

It was founded early in 2001 by Sriyadi, Sigit Raharjo and Adi
Taruno; they made a studio where they could work near the State
University of Yogyakarta in the north of that city. You can paint
there as a professional or take a painting course.

Over time, more joined. In January 2003, 22 members showed
their work in an exhibition titled Gejolak Awal Jejak (which
loosely translates to A Flaming Start). The second exhibition, in
which 27 members participated, was also held at Museum Vredeburg
in Yogyakarta under the title Mimpi Buruk (Nightmare), in May
2004.

The exhibitions lasted only five to seven days. The group is
currently staging an exhibition where 25 members are showing
their work this August at Hyatt Regency hotel, Yogyakarta.

Most of the participants have never exhibited before.

Some, such as art activist Oda Teda Ena, K. Dafi and Yundhi
Pra, are also member of Kelompok Sepi; also, there are finalists
from Indofood and Philip Morris art competitions. One of the
founders has, in the meantime, found recognition.

A work by Sigit Raharjo was given an award in the Indofood
competition and he can now live on his painting. He is also the
organizer of the ongoing exhibition. He has stayed with the group
-- a remarkable indication of solidarity.

He studied at the SMSR (art intermediate school) in
Yogyakarta, after which he had to work. The prize made it
possible for him to become a full-time painter. However, most of
the other artists have had no formal training.

What is there to see? Most of the works are figurative, more
or less realistic or close to realism: a man with his horse, a
woman making jamu, traditional medicine (and, as it seems, in her
best dress as well), several ladies either with flowers or a
bird, precisely painted shells, fish, a market scene, a
landscape and an angry old man.

There are some surrealist works: Kedamaian portrays a violin
played by hands and an empty face only: it could be you! Deska
has produced Pelindung with the head of an eel mysteriously
placed on a pole. He received an Affandi award at the Indonesian
Arts Institute and was selected for exhibition in the Indofood
competition, both in 2003.

Triandri's painting Di Batas Waktu' (On the limits of Time),
shows fleeting bodies in a large structure with floors on
columns. Sigit Raharjo's work also falls into this category. In
his Komoditi Export he makes a reference to the numerous
Indonesian workers who feel compelled, through economic
necessity, to seek work overseas. He does so by painting babies
in cartons, ready to be sealed and dispatched.

Good works, incorporating Indonesian culture in a contemporary
setting are Petruk Kantong Bolong and Alam Benda. Petruk is a
figure in a wayang (puppet) performance, and Timur Adi Jiwanto
has given him an inflated breast and a hand grenade. The still
life realistically shows a container made of woven grass with an
ethnic motive, but the surroundings are imaginary.

This painting emanates a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The
artist, Edy Sutarmo, learned from and exhibited with Dullah and
lives in Bali.

Strange, but also original, is K. Dafi's (yes, he has a
brother called Sadam!) Sudah Lahir (Just after Birth). Has he
given frogs human faces or humans frog's bodies? The quality of
these works, as of many others, is quite high.

A 17-page, limited edition, full-color catalog is available.
Besides reproductions of the exhibited works and some
introductions, it contains portraits of the artists and limited
biodata including a short exhibition history.

Any curatorial comment or concept is lacking and would also be
hard to include given the multitude of styles. After all, this is
what working people make.

Let us hope that many hotel guests will see and appreciate the
exhibition, then, maybe, someone might find another job
opportunity.

Established galleries might also discover the artist of their
choice.

Merdeka Painting exhibition

Hyatt Regency hotel

Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar

Yogyakarta,

through Aug. 31

tel. (0274) 7452872.