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)