Swirling watercolors 'To Indonesia With Love'

Swirling watercolors 'To Indonesia With Love'

JAKARTA (JP): Artistic illustration has been predominantly in
watercolors in both Eastern and Western countries for years but
in Indonesia appreciation of the medium is still crawling along
at a snail's pace among both artists and art lovers.

However, a watercolor exhibition being staged by Benny
Setiawan and his protege Sasya Tranggono Hilman at Hotel Aryaduta
through Nov. 8 is one of the few such shows that has taken the
capital's art lovers on a fluid voyage of exploration.

Benny has been painting since the 1970s and has had numerous
shows in Germany and New Jersey, U.S., in addition to Indonesia.
Combining painting as well as teaching for well over a decade, he
has lately been concentrating on watercolors and acrylics.

Totally immersed in the beautiful cultural atmosphere of
Indonesia, he not only constantly draws inspiration from the
nation's opulent heritage, but has managed to fire this
patriotism into his students as well.

Sasya, who returned to Indonesia after spending many years
abroad is one such watercolorist. Perhaps her attitude is obvious
from the title of the exhibition: To Indonesia With Love.

"Pak Benny asked me to open my eyes and notice the abundant
beauty in our own culture. Since then the richness of local art
has transformed me," she said. She has also replaced her
comfortable western clothes with a sarong.

A batik designer for more than 10 years, Benny has
incorporated batik art into his paintings in a unique manner.

Several works of the two painters show still lives on top of
batik cloth. However the symmetry and intricate design of the
material which forms the flat background does not succeed in
dominating the foreground as intended by the artist.

The various influences that swirl around an artist are an
omnipotent enigma that flow from one medium to another, and even
while not being metaphysically present in one art form, they
influence the brush strokes of it.

Benny has allowed his batik beginnings to vicariously permeate
his canvases. Even though the presence of batik is omitted from
paintings like Lovely rose, the handiwork, the strokes and the
technique employed reveal the painter's batik ties. The painting
illustrates the everyday life scene of a woman holding a flower
in a flower shop full numerous types of flowers.

"Figurative and ornamental -- my style is crowded as in a
batik design but isn't that what life is all about," he said.

While sticking to mainstream realism, the artist avoids
extravagant flamboyance, both in stroke, content and color. Sasya
on the other hand sticks to vibrant hues and paints still life as
it really is. Ripe bananas in delicious lime greens and warm
yellows light up her canvases. Artifacts that Indonesia is famous
for, such wooden fruit, have won the hearts of the artist -- such
is the clear message emanating from her works. (Pavan Kapoor)