Local painters explore 'The Hidden Art'

An abstract painter meets an expressionist counterpart in a gallery in Jakarta.

The works of Hanafi, 42, and Yunizar, 31, greet art lovers and visitors with bright colors that speak about hidden meanings.

Hanafi, who was born in Purworejo, Central Java, painter, produced smooth expressions through sweeping stroke on broad canvass to speak out his impression about many things, such as the sceneries of the sea, dessert and certain objects.

But he will ask you to make your free interpretation of what he presented.

Yunizar, who was born in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, has developed a more radical concept in painting. He does his paintings with absolute freedom. He does not paint what he sees but rather what he feels in his heart to produce loose images.

These images portrayed everything that passes by in front of his eyes, such as cups, passersby, stones, steam rising from a hot cup of coffee and so on. His paintings are quite naive, comical but always surprising.

According to fine art critic Agus Dermawan T., the works from both painters had some hidden values.

"Allow me to refer to rhetoric's Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, who said that the art come to perfection only when it can hide its value. We can't understand, interpret and comprehend Hanafi's and Yunizar's paintings in a glance, may be they hid the values like Marcus Febius' had mentioned," he said.

Hanafi and Yunizar have attracted art lovers' attention in the last 10 years with their works. Both have academical background and they have held exhibition in many location. They have received a number of national accolades.

Seni Yang Tersembunyi (The Hidden Art) is held at Galeri Santi on Jl. Benda No. 4, Kemang, South Jakarta until Dec. 12. -- JP