Chinese paintings stun local art lovers
Huang Rongyuan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Something that is experimental is always interesting to see, be it the so-called "decapitating tactics" currently being applied by the U.S.-led coalition forces in the war against Iraq or the works of Chinese contemporary painters now being exhibited at the National Gallery in Central Jakarta.
This exhibition, called From China with Art, features 65 paintings by 16 academy-graduated painters from a number of Chinese provinces, depicting various experimental themes and styles that have been accepted, and are expected, internationally as a genre of Chinese modern painting.
Although some of them still adhere to socialist realism, there work is accepted because the creations of these contemporary painters, most of whom were born in the 1960s, do not contain the ideological and political propaganda that used to prevail in most modern Chinese paintings. Instead, they reveal their own novel ideas of humanism and the freedom of individuals in a country where individualism is by no means encouraged.
Other factors supporting their acceptance are the use of new media, such as oil colors, canvas and acrylics -- a radical departure from traditional Chinese painting that mainly uses watercolors and paper -- and their affiliation to Western culture.
Expected, because their works reflect masterly subject delineation and color juxtaposition, making their presence a jewel in any major painting exhibition. This has been proven by their participation in a number of international exhibitions, including those in Australia, Brazil, Britain, France, Italy, Japan and the United States.
"The acceptance of Chinese (contemporary) art reflects the recognition of its achievements as well as the expectation that it will play a role in the (global) cultural exchange of creativity," Johnson Chang Tsong-zung, the curator of the ongoing exhibition told The Jakarta Post, moments before the opening ceremony for the exhibition last Tuesday.
Johnson Chang said that due to the satirical tone that prevails in the works of the contemporary painters, it would have been impossible to publicly display their artistic, experimental creations in mainland China some five years or so ago, much less exhibit them in art galleries or museums.
Indeed, viewing the paintings on display, one may readily agree with Johnson Chang's remarks. For example, painter Tang Zhigang's Children in Meeting, painted in a surrealist-like style, shows an honest depiction of the present condition of the Chinese people in exercising their freedom of expression -- portrayed by children with different faces despite the Socialist system of the Chinese government that imposes control over the working class and peasants (reflected by the Mao jackets the children are wearing, and contrived uniformity of the mugs on the table). Meanwhile, the poster-style of Wang Guangyi's Great Criticism clearly shows his wish for freedom of the individual and expression: for the pen to be truly mightier than the sword.
Now that China has made great strides in economic development, markedly improving the living standards of its people and gradually liberalizing its political system, the emergence of the critical "radical" painter has found a place in the hearts of tens of millions of the 1.3 billion Chinese people.
"About two years ago the new President Hu Jintao (then vice- president) himself endorsed the participation of the avant-garde Chinese painters in an art biennial in Berlin," explained Johnson Chang,
From China with Art, which ends on Thursday and will be continued from April 3 through April 13 at Edwin's Gallery in Kemang, South Jakarta, is an important painting exhibition given the painters' international reputation and innovation in keeping up with global changes and challenges.
Edwin Rahardjo, the owner of the Gallery and also the promoter and organizer of the present exhibition, told the Post that he has worked hard for years to be able to bring the prestigious works as well as some of the 16 Chinese painters to Indonesia, in the hope that this would broaden the horizons of local painters and art connoisseurs regarding the remarkable achievements of China's contemporary fine arts and painting.
Edwin noted that due to the fact that the desire of local connoisseurs and art collectors "to own fine art works today has become so great, it is in fact greater than their awareness of art itself," most local collectors buy paintings on the basis of financial profit rather than artistic appreciation, due to lack of reliable sources and information, such as curators and comprehensive reference books.
The exhibition From China with Art, which is complemented by a seminar attended by scholars and art critics, is expected to bring closer ties between the artists of the two countries, exchanges of experiences, as well as encourage young Indonesian painters to produce artistic creations that can be displayed in art galleries and museums overseas.