Sumadiyasa's 'emotion' on display

DENPASAR (JP): Maps of Paris from a bewildering first-time visit were among inspirations for painter Made Sumadiyasa, who is now displaying his works in Ubud.

Sumadiyasa points to a drawing with a blackened map of the city in his studio. "That was when I was lost in Paris. I didn't know who to talk to, the French only speak French."

His exhibition of 100 works is being held in Museum Neka, Galeri Bamboo and Galeri Komeneka, all in Ubud.

Many works of the 28-year-old no longer explicitly carry the typical images of Bali.

In the 1990s he often depicted the rituals, dances and mythology of his home province, such as in his 1993 work, Penari Baris (Baris Dancers), or Malam Magis dari Roh Setan (Magical Night of Devil's Spirit) in 1994.

His works today reflect more of his contemplation, his yearning for harmony and, clearly, an emotional outburst.

Overall, however, the impression is that he still refers to his native Balinese culture, such as the primary color concept (catur loka) and strong bent strokes like movements in Balinese dance.

Other perceptible Balinese influences are the paradoxes of light and dark, of life and death, strength and grace and tranquility and clamor in his abstract works.

The impression that there is "something" Balinese in the abstracts is similar to that raised in abstracts by other artists here -- Nyoman Erawan and Made Supena, among others.

The exhibition which runs to Sept. 16 also features the launching of a book on the artist and his works by art observer Garrett Kam and Suwarno Wisetrotomo, and a six-minute documentary on Sumadiyasa at work.

Born in Lalang Linggah in Bali's Tabanan regency, Sumadiyasa graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Yogyakarta and gained fame after his 1995 solo exhibit in Hong Kong titled Art Asia.

He subsequently traveled to art museums in Singapore, England and Paris -- hence the sketch of the lost traveler -- and other works resulting from the trips. (Putu Wirata)