Painter blends culinary and cultural experiences

Painter blends culinary and cultural experiences

By Pavan Kapoor

JAKARTA (JP): For a painter, the priority for selecting a
venue to exhibit art would usually be a place feasible for a
large number of people to convene. But painter Widodo Soenarko
has interestingly chosen, instead, to release his work in an
atmosphere which is synchronous with the Balinese theme of his
paintings.

The Bebek Bali restaurant situated within the Taman Ria
complex, brings alive the spirit of the paradise island of Bali
and is currently host to Widodo Soenarko's painting exhibition
entitled, Bali, an Endless Fascination.

Red brick and gray stone walls which are intrinsic of Balinese
architecture and the red and gold umbrellas at the entrance are
the first sniff of a cultural cum culinary flight, that takes one
deep onto an away-from-it-all journey. The ornate entrance with a
large colorful wooden centerpiece of ducks almost reminds one of
entering a Balinese temple.

People always want to take a part of the Balinese experience
back home with them and Widodo provides the ideal souvenir for
this natural human instinct.

Two short flights of stairs to the left and right of the
central lobby lead to the lower level where the restaurant is
situated. Widodo's paintings are displayed along the perimeter of
the restaurant level unmistakably wooing the eyes of a diner to
glance away from the bebek bakar colek subak (grilled duck rubbed
with sauce) to the rich abundance of cultural ambience in the
surroundings.

While the lower level is for formal dining, the upper level is
host to the Bebek Bali cafe. Tastefully furnished, the cafe is a
fusion of what modern Bali is all about. While the cafe has a
mock wall depicting an endless beach against which modern singers
entertain with jazz and contemporary numbers, the restaurant is
of a more traditional ambience.

Widodo was born in Bandung and claims to have had an
attraction for the riots of colors he could muster up with a
swish of his brush since childhood. Although he established
himself as an architect to earn regular bread and butter, he has
always kept his zest for painting alive.

Sitting in any corner of the restaurant a diner is treated to
an unobstructed view of many of Widodo's paintings. There are
about 27 paintings on display, of which twelve show Widodo's
passion for Bali.

Widodo's particular fascination with Bali is evident in the
layout and graphic theme of his Balinese paintings. While paying
less attention to unimportant details, it seems Widodo
concentrates on a build up of atmosphere and theme in his
colorful and vibrant works.

The temple procession entitled Leaving Pura and Barong dan Dua
Penari (Barong and two dancers) evoke the sense of observing a
manifestation as real as one would experience on the paradise
island itself. Widodo uses his expressive style to maintain a
strength of character in his painting, undiluted in its pristine
image of Bali.

In An Alley in Bali there exists a contrasting sense of light
and shadow cast on a lonely stretch of path by trees and shrubs
that are bursting with color.

Farewell my King is a big oil work which brings the
traditional Balinese ritual of burning effigies into stark
reality. The brightness of the flames seems realistic and
performs a favorable job of ensnaring the onlookers' attention to
the focal point of the painting.

Particularly soul drenching is the painting which depicts a
serene corner of Nusa Dua. The bunga pisang (Banana flowers) and
canna flowers in the foreground give the distinct impression that
the onlooker is witness to a scene from within Indonesia. A
typically red bricked patio that overlooks the sea with fushia -
red bougainvillea shrubs overgrown on a Balinese structure.

The few paintings that are removed from the Balinese flavor
involve differing painting styles that show the adventurous
spirit of the painter.

Bison in particular is a painting which looks very European.
While enjoying the fusion of softer shades, one misses the loud
splashes of color that are so typical of the Balinese-inspired
works.

There are a few paintings that are not for sale and are
dedicated to the artist's wife and daughter.

From the thematic decor and the ethnic Balinese menu to the
deep hearty beat of powerful Balinese traditional gamelan music,
the Bebek Bali achieves it's goal of transporting diners into the
vibrant spirit of Bali. The clay statues with the traditional
black and white checkered cloth (sarong) tied around the waist
stand in regal vigilance as if on an unrelenting guard.

The exhibition is on until 30 June at the Bebek Bali
restaurant and cafe in the Taman Ria Senayan complex. A visit not
only satiates the art lover's passion, but also fits the bill for
the gastronomically adventurous. "Killing two birds with one
stone" some would say.