Four painters bring color to differences

By Matdon

BANDUNG (JP): For painters, their works are an expression of their spiritual experience and at the same time, give them a sense of spiritual comfort.

At least, it is true for four Bandung painters -- Suherman, Asep Achmad Sutardi, Usnadibrata and Jo'onk -- who exhibit their works at Hotel Santika here until Nov. 12. The exhibition, titled Titik Temu (Meeting Point), has been organized to show that they can share something in common despite differences in their background, mission, vision and painting schools.

Suherman, who works at the French Cultural Center in Bandung, is a self-made painter who started learning to paint from an early age. He was deeply absorbed in his painting until he found his most beloved child shot dead by a schoolmate because of a petty quarrel.

Deeply frustrated for his failure to bring the perpetrator to jail made him switch from painting to car racing. He was a car racer for almost a decade and won a number of competitions. However, in the midst of his success as a car racer, he continued to yearn for justice.

One day while praying, he saw a canvas and brush, both absent from his life for quite some time. All of a sudden, he created a beautiful calligraphy on canvas. This unexpected experience brought him closer to God.

After his long absence in the painting world, Suherman began exhibiting his works again in early 1990. The exhibition, titled They Discover Java, was held in France and his statue, Masker Pithecanthropus (The Mask of Pithecanthropus), was exhibited in several countries. Since then, he has established himself as a talented calligrapher and the exhibition at Hotel Santika is his second exhibition this year.

The second painter, Asep Achmad Sutardi, has another story. Although he started learning painting at an early age, he became a businessman. But when the crisis hit the country, his textile business collapsed. In his frustration, he found comfort through painting.

For Asep, the exhibition is his first after a long absence from the painting world. His works express his disappointment over the present economic and political situation, such as in Provokator (Provocateur).

"Life is colorful and I express this through my paintings in a hope that they will become legends to the next generation," Asep told The Jakarta Post.

Painter Usnadibrata, 56, has exhibited his works since he was young. However, the graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)'s School of Fine Arts prefers to lecture graphic design and photography. He also devotes time to developing a computer design and management school in hopes of promoting fine arts among the young.

His enthusiasm to start painting was suddenly revived when he was asked to participate in a national fine arts jamboree at Pasar Seni arts market in Ancol this year. Through his hands, he creates decorative works featuring Cirebon legends of West Java.

Yogyakartan-born painter Jo'onk, a nickname for Tri Joko Purnomo, has been active in music and painting since 1990. However, music took up most of his time until he moved to Bandung six months ago with one resolution, devoting himself to painting.

The four painters met in Bandung and then planned their joint exhibition. "We would came together as artists who have different backgrounds and are bitter for different reasons but have common feelings within the framework of art."