Come what may, local artists go on with the show
Come what may, local artists go on with the show
By Chandra Johan
JAKARTA (JP): Painter Irawan Karseno, who prefers to call
himself a "picture seller", is grappling with the ugly effects of
the monetary crisis.
He has the same headaches as other employers now scrutinizing
their bottom lines. There are several staff in his studio, who
help in fixing canvases and packing finished paintings to be
supplied to offices or the young professionals who make up his
buyers.
Or, rather, were his purchasers. The market has vanished.
After golden years of exhibitions in hotels, banks, galleries and
office buildings, orders have shriveled to a trickle in the past
few months.
Other painters are inevitably feeling the pinch, but several
say they have not been severely shaken by the downturn.
Dan Hisman, Sri Warso Wahono, Sulebar and the relatively
unknown but productive Yoes Rizal were almost one in the opinion
that they are not unnerved by the crisis. They say their stocks
of materials remain sufficient and claim they were never
motivated by rewards in the once-booming art business.
"This situation is most definitely felt by those who were
conditioned by the market," said Dan, who sold three of his works
at an auction in Singapore several months ago.
Some observers argue the local art market -- often considered
highly irrational in its amazing purchases of entire offerings of
painters -- spoilt many artists, contributed to a collapse in
their idealism and fostered a rise in poor quality but
commercially viable artworks.
Mamannoor, an art observer from Bandung, is of this opinion.
But he believes even the most serious collector and idealistic
artist would not be spared the effects of the crisis.
"Whoever the person is, he or she thinks of the stomach first,
then of art. I am that way, too."
He added that the economic quandary of artists was
understandable.
Taxi
"In boom or recession periods, an artist ought to be
realistic," said Irawan, "If it is necessary, I'll become a taxi
driver in order to live, and let my painting live.
But not here, I mean in America. My friend can send his in-
laws $500 a month..."
As he talked, he held up a tube of acrylic paint, which cost
Rp 37,000 several months ago.
It is now priced at over Rp 90,000.
Irawan said he found inspiration even in these tough times.
Artists, he said, should reform their ways -- mentally,
intellectually and materially.
Come what may, Sri Warso said he would never waver in his
resolve to paint.
"Painting must go on, even it means eating tiwul (cassava
meal). After all, I used to live a hard life."
Sri Warso won't have to eat lowly tiwul just now. He still has
considerable savings after selling 17 paintings last year, priced
from Rp 4 million to Rp 42 million each.
Painter Jeihan might recall his hard times too in dealing with
the crisis. He used to tell of the days when he sold fried
chicken to feed his family and to buy painting equipment, before
he became rich and famous for his portraits of hollow-eyed
subjects.
Sri Warso added that it was usual for artists to support their
families from other means than selling their works.
Many of these same artists reject, however, labels that their
art is a pastime.
"Recession or not, it is all the same for me," said Dan, who
is a civil servant. "Even during the boom period, I was not one
of those artists whose works sold well."
Most of the artists believe the crisis will only undermine
their colleagues lacking mental strength and strong grounding in
their field.
An artist's life, they contend, is always fraught with crises.
"Unfortunately, there were so many artists who forgot about
their existence and their destiny, especially during the boom
periods," said Yoes. "The world of art nowadays does not touch
the intellectuals and exploration anymore, but only the
decoration.
"So, if luxurious buildings no longer need decoration anymore
because of the crisis, must art die, too? This is very tragic."
Yoes, who said he never benefited from luck, will exhibit with
American artist Joan Somers at the Lontar Gallery in the near
future.
The crisis has not quashed the artists' spirit.
Sri Warso said he would mark his 50th birthday with an
exhibition. Irawan plans to exhibit without thinking about
profit margins.
"This is the moment of returning to the beginning," an
enthusiastic Irawan said. "Reformation in all aspects. Several
media are not dependent on imported things. Gunny sacks or coal
from the kitchen could be an alternative.
"Why not? It's all art."
This was said by Jim Supangkat and the late Sanento Yuliman a
few years ago, who claimed "media enrichment" would prove to be
the important "truth", while the boom era would result in
"impoverishment" in the art world.