Sasya swirls up storm with watercolors

Sasya swirls up storm with watercolors

Pavan Kapoor
Contributor
Jakarta

"Life is full of surprises" is a common phrase many people swear
by. Things never happen the way they ought to and that truth of
life perhaps never stood more true for Sasyita "Sasya" Tranggono.

Sasya to friends and family, started her journey with a
bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering in New York before
persevering for a master's degree in Business in Rotterdam.

She went on to become the media and marketing director of the
family business, Ristra cosmetics, before being mesmerized by a
hobby she had picked up while studying in Rotterdam.

Little did she foresee that the painting lessons, which she
started, as a way to fill in her empty evenings, would return and
become a passion which would encompass her whole life.

Sasya was selected as part of the 123 artists from over 700
applicants to participate in the International multi-media art
exhibition -- the C.P. Biennale at the National Gallery. With
only 10 Indonesian artists selected for this prestigious event.

While her Western education imparted a mechanical know-how of
painting techniques and conceptualization, the subjective matter
that pulled at her brush strokes were closer to home.

Be it soft folds of intricate patterned batik cloth twined
around Indonesian masks, flora and fauna and wooden handicrafts
or as a backdrop for the regal wayang puppets holding center
stage, Sasya seems a woman on journey deep into the rich cultural
heritage and exotic natural beauty of her home.

An alluring blend of east and west quietly suggests her love
of her cultural background.

In a meeting with The Jakarta Post at the Biennale exhibition
Sasya took some time off to commence on a trip down memory lane.

Question: What are your ambitions and plans in the near future?

Right now I am totally involved with various activities to
secure myself as an integrated watercolorist and be established
as an icon in promoting the medium of watercolors in Indonesia. I
am planning a solo exhibition which will take place early 2004.

To bring forth an awareness of the beauty and intricacies of
the watercolor medium I have involved myself in various
workshops. Earlier it was inviting European artists to conduct
workshops but now I am conducting a workshop in conjunction with
Lippo Lady card (of Lippo Bank), Niaga Preferred Circle (of Niaga
Bank) and some international schools.

Every artist should also be a part of group exhibitions. My
next group exhibition is with other female artists such as
Kartini Basuki, Erika and Nubia and takes place in December at
Koi, Saberro House, Jakarta.

What do you think is the root of your ambition and
inspiration?

It is quite difficult pointing to one tangible factor as being
the root of my ambition.

Remember the movie Accidental Tourist? Well, I am an
Accidental Artist. There was never a plan, what started as a
means to kill time somehow created a storm through my creative
cells lying dormant within me for so many years.

What I do know is that I needed to do something productive
with my free time and when I was expecting my son Nicholas, I
wanted to be careful about being exposed to the chemical
ingredients in paints. Watercolor was the safest and I was
literally "swept ashore."

So basically the roots of my ambition lies in wanting to
always be a productive person and not letting the present be
wasted in a sea of nothingness.

Will you call this promotion or sale of your art or of the
watercolor medium?

Selling myself as a watercolorist and selling my watercolors
run hand in glove. Yes, one has to understand that watercolor is
a rare skilled medium in the world of painting. Oil paints are
easier to handle than watercolors.

Today, not many people are used to watercolor. In fact in the
Biennale exhibition, I am the only one representing the medium.
So I will have to promote the medium, as an established entity.

I have a commitment to the medium of watercolors. When people
appreciate the medium of watercolors, they can understand me as
an artist and place a higher value on my work.

When you say awareness of the watercolor medium, how far do
you think watercolor has come in the last five to ten years?

Unbelievably slow. At the pace of snails and turtles.

Why so? Considering everything Western catches on fast here?

Firstly, because of the expense of the materials. The best
materials are all imported -- the heavy weight paper which is
best type of paper to paint on, color tubes, the glass to cover
the paintings and the frame.

The technique of watercolor is so different and people still
believe something done on paper does not have economic value.
Although this view is scoffed at in the West, it will take time
for the true art connoisseurs to actually respect this.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

Ten years from now -- it is imperative to succeed both
artistically and commercially. You see my mother had an artistic
skill but unless she turns it into a commercial enterprise, her
skill would have gone unrecognized.

Slowly with time it will diminish. So her advise to me based
on experience and authority insisted that I enter the world of
"art as a business."

Artistically, I hope to be able to experience other mediums
such as batik, ceramics etc. I dream to create my own line of
batik and ceramics. I will definitely be investing in a chain of
exclusive gift shops called "From Indonesia with Love" in
airports and other tourist places of interest. That's my dream
and I need to focus to get there.

Although watercolors will remain my primary signature -- my
first love, I hope to be able to explore the world of art and
from each enriching experience grow as an artist and person.