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.