Island of salt explored through Soemadji's works

Island of salt explored through Soemadji's works

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Javanese artist Soemadji brings to life his memories and
appreciation of Madura, or the island of salt as it is known, in
a series of paintings currently on display at the Sambung Seni
art gallery here in Keloran, Tirtonirmolo, Bantul.

His emotional ties with the island stem from his experiences
in Bangkalan, Madura, in the early 1960s, where he gave painting
lessons to kindergarten children and high school students. Though
he was born in Berbek, Nganjuk, East Java, he has lived on Madura
since the '60s.

For Soemadji, the ethnic violence in Kalimantan that forced
thousands of Madurese to return to their hometowns was a time of
sadness for the plight of these people. He poured out his
observations of life in Madura into a series of paintings.

Since 2000, he has produced dozens of paintings on Madura and
its people, most of which depict daily life on the island. Most
of the paintings were done when living among the refugees.

"This is my way of showing my deep love for Madura, where I
live and make a living. I'm trying to picture life in Madura on
canvass," said Soemadji, who turned 69 on Feb. 7.

The 60 oil paintings, mostly in bright colors, include
depictions of traditional bull races, called karapan sapi, the
popular street satay vendors and the beautiful scenery along the
island's coast. The exhibition will conclude on Sunday

"Through the paintings I would like to introduce the beauty of
the island and the culture of the Madurese, who find it very
difficult to accept the cultures of others, which is why local
traditions and culture are still well maintained."

In Soemadji's view, the beauty of the island's hinterland,
coastal areas and the yet unexplored sea is no less attractive
than similar attractions in other regions.

Madura, according to Soemadji, should not only be associated
with karapan sapi or satay street vendors, because there are so
many other attractions that deserve notice.

In short, he wants people to explore and appreciate Madura.

"In a kerap (Madurese term for karapan sapi), for example,
it's not just the race that matters. There are a series of
processions ahead of and after the kerap and all have their own
meaning," he said.

It is not surprising, then, that Soemadji is exhibiting six
different paintings on the karapan sapi in order to show people
all of the karapan-related rituals.

The paintings are Minum Jamu (73x94 cm), Dikarantina (66x90
cm), Berangkat Kerap (77x97 cm), Siap Kerap (70x92cm), Kerap
(67x97 cm) and Menang (75x92 cm).

Minum Jamu (Drinking herbal beverage) depicts the tradition of
treating the participating bulls with traditional medicine made
from a mixture of chicken eggs and fermented sugar palm wine
(called tuak aren). A bull receives this mixture for a year
before it races.

Dikarantina (Under quarantine) shows bulls being groomed for
the race in a secret location in order to avoid attacks by
rivals.

Berangkat Kerap (Leaving for the race) is an image of a bull
leaving for the karapan, accompanied by traditional music.

Siap Kerap (Ready for the race) depicts the last minutes
before the race, as the contestants wait their turn.

Kerap (The race) depicts a karapan sapi race in which three
teams of bulls compete.

Menang (Champion) pictures the ceremony held to present the
prize to the winners of the race.

Other paintings in the exhibit include Jual Sate I-III
(Selling satay part I to III), Ambuten (the name of a beach in
northern Sumenep), Cadik (a small fishing boat for one
passenger), Istri-istri Nelayan (Fishermen's wives), Nongkrong
(Hanging out), Petan (an activity where people, usually women,
clean each other's hair) and Pasar Buah Tanah Merah (Tanah Merah
fruit market).

"I want the art world to know that Madura has potential that
can be explored, fathomed and actualized on canvas. I also want
to wake up the Madurese to open their eyes and explore the art
world of the island that has been for so long dominated by
outsiders," Soemadji said.

Soemadji is a graduate of the School of Painting/Sculpture of
the Indonesian Fine Arts Academy in Yogyakarta (1953) and the
School of Illustration/Graphics at the same academy (1959).

He was one of the 10 young Yogyakarta-based artists who helped
establish the well known art workshop Sanggar Bambu in 1954,
along with artist Soenarto PR.

He has taken part in numerous joint exhibitions, while
continuing in his main profession as a teacher and later a high
school principal in Sumenep and Bangkalan. The exhibition at
Sambung Seni is his first solo exhibition.

Soemadji believes an artist has to be able to make
himself/herself a medium for inspiration.

An artist, he said, has to keep communicating through their
art, which will in turn enrich and strengthen the nation's
cultural life.

"With that in mind, I have always tried to manage my time to
paint in my spare time as a teacher."