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.