From abstract to figurative, painter reveals new identity

From abstract to figurative, painter reveals new identity

Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta

Unlike his father who was part of the early crop of painters
bringing the realist-naturalist style to the country's fine art
world, Sudaryono is a loyalist of the abstract genre.

His father, Sudarso, was a pure realist-naturalist painter who
had close ties to maestros like Affandi, Hendra Gunawan, Barli
and Wahdi, They even formed the exclusive Indonesia Lima
(Indonesia Five) group in Bandung in 1935.

Hence, any attempt to make parallels between the creative
journeys of this father and son pair will provide proof positive
that the "like father like son" adage does not always hold true.

Sudar, as Sudaryono is affectionately called, who was long
known for communicating his expression through non-figurative
abstract strokes, has been challenged by his own restlessness to
leave this niche behind. In the past two years, he has started to
include figurative images in his works, a daring departure from
his previous work.

In his latest exhibition, Wayang Perempuan (Female Shadow
Play) Sudar showcases his new identity, abstract figurative as he
plays around with female figurines drawn in the style of
characters from the wayang kulit (shadow plays).

Over two years, Sudar has produced 25 paintings consisting of
23 figurative abstract works, two non-figurative abstract works,
a wooden sculpture, and a three-dimensional sculpture -- all of
them about women.

These works are currently on show at D Gallery in Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta. The solo exhibition was opened on May 20 by
art connoisseur Pia Alisjahbana, who is a local press icon and
prominent cultural activist.

In portraying the female figures, Sudar leaves behind the
conventional format of female characters in wayang kulit. Art
critic from Bali Dr. Jean Couteau categorized what Sudar has done
as emerging from the existing iconography; which enables the
public to identify his character.

Although he has emerged from the iconographic patterns of the
shadow play, urbanites who are in touch with either Javanese or
Sundanese traditional shadow plays will still sense the presence
of Sudar's shadow puppetry; at the very least from the way he
positions the gestures of his figures or, particularly, through
the language conveyed through the shapes and the positions of the
fingers of each figure.

For example, Sudar imparts the idea of rejection and
submission with crossed arms (ngapurancang in Javanese) and hands
on the hips respectively.

For Jakartans who originally hail from West Java, Central Java
or Yogyakarta, or have ever lived in any of these three
provinces, wayang kulit will be familiar to them. Besides,
Jakartans have had more opportunities over the last few years to
watch wayang kulit with the airing of shadow plays on a number of
TV stations. Shadow plays are also available in VCD or DVD format
at affordable prices.

Back to Sudar's works. The subjects of the works on display in
this exhibition are dominated by black lines. These lines form
the body contours and color compositions used mostly to create
the colorful outfits of the figures. Sudar uses homogeneous
colors to provide the backgrounds to his paintings to highlight
the figures.

The monochrome backgrounds can be easily compared with the
white backdrop of the shadow plays, which is meant to portray the
Universe. It becomes a tad monotonous, however, when it is
used on a 140 cm x 170 cm painting with single subject. While the
figure's bodies are stylized, Sudar makes the faces of the
figures real. Even without this, however, Sudar already makes his
figures speak through their bodies, hands and fingers.

Looking back at his previous works and the current
transformation in his style, a question emerges: what will his
work be like in the future? Will he stay true to his female
shadow play characters? Perhaps not. Sudar confided to Ulfa
Waworuntu, the manager of D Gallery, that he wasn't sure if he
could paint these kinds of paintings anymore.

Perempuan Wayang, solo exhibition of paintings by Sudaryono, runs
until June 6, 2005, at D Gallery, Jl. Barito I No 3, Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta.