Mario's work and Balinese cosmology
Mario's work and Balinese cosmology
Bambang Asrini Widjanarko, Contributor, Jakarta
It is widely known that Bali is an island of beauty, both in a physical and spiritual sense -- and many artists have been lured there to experience its radiance.
Bali-born painter Mario Blanco has tried to bring this beauty to his works and has focused his paintings on things close to him as a Balinese, like Balinese fruit and the offerings used in Hindu rituals.
Mario's last name will immediately remind people of Maestro Antonio Blanco, the Spanish artist who arrived in Bali in 1952 and immediately fell in love with the island, deciding to stay on to explore its beauty.
Balinese girls and women dominated the paintings of Mario's father and Mario has steered clear of these subjects, for the sole reason that he wants to be perceived as different to his father.
In a brief interview on the sidelines of the exhibition opening, Mario acknowledged that his father deeply influenced his style and taste. "I remind people of my father ... when they are trying to analyze my works at a glance," he said.
Nevertheless, Mario has always tried to be different from his father and thus does not paint naked women -- which his father loved to paint.
"I am a faithful Hindu believer, so I obey the prohibition that does not allow us to paint the naked human body," he said.
He then further explained that as a Balinese, it was his obligation to engage in mabekti (devotion) and mabanten (service to God), as it was a form of gratitude toward Sang Hyang Widhi, (God of the Universe).
"From my experience, this kind of submission to our Creator gives me peace."
In this solo exhibition Mario displays 25 paintings produced this year. Among them, Fruits for Offering (2004), in oils on canvas and The Holy (2004), using the same media, portray Mario's devotion to his belief. He has selected the daily offerings used in prayer.
Other natural objects, however, are presented in his exhibition, titled: Mario Paints Mangosteen.
Mario views the frame as an integral part of a painting. It does not merely serve as a border to bring out the content of painting. As a result, frames with beautiful and unique craftsmanship are used as attractive integral components of the paintings.
The interplay of dark and light background creates a unique kind of perspective, not unlike European works.
In his works Mario also carefully arranges the composition of his objects, reminiscent of more classical paintings.
We can also see how he uses gentle brush strokes that blur the edges of the objects, reminding us of the old European impressionist masters.
Mario's quest to distinguish himself from his father in this exhibition has produced some beautiful frames.
Nevertheless, Mario is an artist well on the way to finding his own identity.
Mario Blanco solo painting exhibition "Mario Melukis Manggis" (Mario Paints Mangosteen) Cosmology of Natural Objects By Paintbrush, until Oct. 14., Galeri Canna, Jl. Boulevard Barat Raya Block LC 6.No. 33-34, Kelapa Gading Permai, North Jakarta.