Talented Aditya unravels the feminine mystique

Talented Aditya unravels the feminine mystique

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): Aditya Novali's paintings could easily be
mistaken for a foray by flamboyant fashion designer John Galliano
into the finer fine arts.

The portraits of Indonesian women currently on display at the
Cafe Gallery Linggar are garishly adorned and evinced, from the
swirling prints on the traditional kebaya clothing to a
psychotherapist's bounty of emotions.

Painting prodigy Aditya, only 19, depicts in oil the lives of
village women, although there are also a couple of urban scenes.

Natural expressions and simple womanly beauty in bold designs
and color characterize Mudik (Homeward Bound), portraying harried
women, men and children lined up for the arduous journey
home.

Tertidur dalam Perjalanan (Falling Asleep During the Journey)
is one of the best works in the exhibition. A woman in an orange
kebaya and a vibrant match of yellow and green skirt sleeps
peacefully, her arm cradling her sleeping child.

A morbid portrayal of dark moods is depicted in Wajah dalam
kelam (Faces of Obscurity). Defined with splashes of black and
blank stares, the faces of five women are etched with torn
expressions, each differing from the other.

With one seemingly listening, and another expressing a
thought, two women share a personal moment together in another
beautiful work, Bersahabatan (Friendliness).

Bercerita with its defined strokes has an eerie feel to it, as
a woman looks skyward, carried away with narrating a tale to a
spellbound girl seated near her feet.

Gallery owner Josephine Linggar said she was happy to promote
promising talents and singled out Aditya as among the brightest
of them. "He has a good future ahead of him in painting. However,
he is still working between abstract compositions and the
impressionistic style."

Coowner Tan Thiam Siew agreed that Aditya was still finding
his artistic feet. Nevertheless, he said that many of Aditya's
paintings had their market, and "15 of the 45 paintings exhibited
have already been sold."

"His works are mature, and though morbid, they have
character."

Born in Surakarta, Central Java, Aditya draws on the village
life near his hometown. An ardent fan of painter Hendra Gunawan's
works, Aditya has already exhibited in Japan, India, Austria and
Paris.

His works have been entered in notable painting competitions,
including the recent Philip Morris Indonesia Art Awards IV. They
were also exhibited at Agung Rai Museum of Art, Bali, as well as
Graha Lukisan Jakarta.

He has had solo exhibitions in Bentara Budaya, Galeri Jaya
Ancol, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, all in Jakarta. He has
also exhibited in Purna Budaya and Gedung Seni Sono of Yogyakarta
and Gedung Monumen Pers in Solo.

Aditya Novali's paintings are on exhibit at Cafe Gallery-
Linggar at Jl. Kemang Timur Raya No. 36, South Jakarta. Gallery
hours are 9. a.m. to 9 p.m. Prices range from Rp 19.5 million to
Rp 425,000.