Painter Blanco dies of heart failure

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Flamboyant painter Antonio Blanco died on Friday of heart disease at Sanglah Hospital here.

A member of the hospital's staff, Gede Wardana, said Blanco died at about 1:30 p.m. local time while undergoing intensive treatment from cardiologist I Wayan Wita.

The Spanish-Indonesian painter is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son, who is also a painter. Blanco married one of his models, Balinese traditional legong dancer Ni Rondji, in 1954.

There are conflicting reports on his age. Some accounts state he was born in Manila on Sept. 15, 1927, but he once said he was born in 1920. His son, Mario, said two years ago that his father was 84. Other reports said Blanco's date of birth was in 1911.

Blanco was admitted to Kasih Ibu Hospital last week before being transferred to Sanglah on Thursday.

"Bali once again has lost one of its greatest painters. We previously mourned the deaths of Ida Bagus Made Poleng and Kobot," said Jais Hadiana Dargawijaya, an art dealer who was also a close friend of Blanco.

An employee in one of Blanco's galleries, Asmari, told The Jakarta Post the painter's family was discussing funeral arrangements.

Blanco resided in Ubud since 1952. His love affair with Rondji inspired film actress Rima Melati to direct the television series The Burning Love of Antonio Blanco based on the relationship.

Blanco, who was often compared to the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali, arrived in Bali after an adventurous tour of the world. He chose Bali to be his source of inspiration after reading Island of Paradise by Mexican painter Miguel Covarrubias, first published in the 1930s.

"Covarrubias explained much about Bali (but) in fact there is much more to tell," Blanco said in an interview with Kompas daily in 1997.

Italian diplomat Giuseppe "Pino" Confessa recalled Blanco as a man who was "full of vitality and hopes for a better future".

"Many thought he was an Italian, from his name. There were many Italian tourists who dropped by his residence for that reason."

Despite leaving an outstanding body of work, Blanco's masterpiece was unfinished, noted painter Nyoman Erawan said.

"He has yet to finish the construction of a park which will be decorated with statues of legong dancers," Erawan said. (zen)