Spontaneity shows in expressionism in van der Sterren
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.