Spontaneity shows in expressionism in van der Sterren

By Ipong Purnama Sidhi

JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 paintings by artist John van der Sterren are on display at Galeri Mon Decor in the solo exhibition A Tropical Journey, which is scheduled to run until May 23.

The exhibition features a series of van der Sterren's small, medium and large-size paintings all using the same medium -- oil on canvas.

Physically, the artist's works are easily recognized. Born in Sukabumi, West Java, in 1938, van der Sterren is well-known for his strong and passionate brush strokes which resemble the expressionist style, an art movement founded around l911 in Germany.

The term "expressionism" is hardly understood as a single term. It is a multi-interpretable term which can be viewed from different perspectives and levels of understanding.

It was Paul Casirer, an art dealer in Berlin, who firstly coined the term expressionism when referring to the work of Norwegian Edvard Munch so as to distinguish his work from impressionist paintings.

His opinion was supported by Lovis Corinth, who made important comments on the existence of the expressionist movement during an art exhibition called "The 22nd Secession" in 1911. The exhibition displayed works by French fauvist and cubist artists. Corinth wrote in the exhibition's catalog that he had displayed paintings by a number of young French artists whom he called "The Expressionists".

One of the most striking characteristics of expressionism was that the subjects were usually painted in a simple organic symbiosis based on the cosmic rhythm.

In the case of John van der Sterren's present exhibition, one can easily recognize how expressionism heavily influenced the artist's work.

His strength lies in his ability to express his feelings and artistic skills through brush strokes dominated by primary colors.

His The Bridge at Temple Gunung Kawi, Bali, 1999, reveals his powerful skill in organizing colors and hues through his vibrant lines. He often draws black lines to create different contours to both strengthen forms and as line separation of overlaid colors.

The artist explores landscapes and scenic panoramas, such as ricefields, mountains, clouds and trees for inspiration.

Van der Sterren also shows deep interest in drawing human figures with nature as the backdrop. In Bapak Muchbadar, Kiai Musholah Japuan, Tanjung, 2001, painted on a large format canvas, Sterren eloquently exposes the character of a Kiai (Islamic cleric) by exploiting a perfect combination of dark and light colors. The reflection of the subject's eyes is powerful and inspiring.

The artist's memorable moments in his "hometown" of Sukabumi in West Java and his long years in Central Java and Bali are recorded through his many landscape paintings.

He learned fine arts from the New Zealand artist Cedric Savage.

In tandem with his solo exhibition, van der Sterren has also launched his biography which was written by Didier Hamel.