Tetet's exhibition reveals her distinctive style

By Matdon

BANDUNG (JP): Tetet Cahyati was formerly known as a short story writer and novelist of no less renown than other Indonesian writers such as Mira W and La Rose. The painting flair that her father, painting maestro Popo Iskandar, has bequeathed to her as a child has made her a woman painter with a distinctive style.

Under the theme of Imagery Games she is exhibiting her works until July 16, 2001 at Griya Seni Popo Iskandar (GSPI) on Jl. Setia Budi 268, Bandung. This upcoming exhibition will be staged after a series of similar events in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth in Australia. At home, her paintings were previously exhibited at several hotels such as Homann Hotel, Empat Nuansa, at Rumah Titian Seni Lembang and other venues.

Now women painters are becoming increasingly prominent. To name a few, artists such Nakis Barli and Ana Witri, Elly Djohariah Roedyat, Clara Aida, Irene Indarti, Rukmini Yusuf, Yulia Sugiarti, Syeni Setayu Roedyat and Hamisah Haryasa are now receiving similar acclaim.

Despite their fame, we rarely hear of a solo exhibition by a woman painter. Only a few years back, we were awed by the exhibitions of a Group of Six Women Painters, displays of paintings of a 100 Women Painters, or the Trio Exhibition and even only a year ago, there was another exhibition in Bandung held by 25 women artists.

But then came a long silence.

It is lamentable that regardless of psychological and sociological restraints, woman painters seem reluctant to go solo, though, in terms of quality, their works are no less exciting.

In two weeks time and amid unfavorable economic and political conditions, this silence will be pierced by the bold and prolific short-story teller, novelist and painter Tetet Cahyati.

Tetet is a newcomer to the realm of painting. She is more involved in abstract paintings -- termed by many as a shortcut to attain success. Her choice of abstract patterns and strokes represent a means to express her thoughts and inner feelings and a medium to channel her restlessness.

Tetet is considered unique, as she doesn't want to be influenced by the style of her late father -- a maestro of Indonesian fine arts. She said her profound love for her father has made her paintings different from his.

Take a hard look at a painting called Long Life Education. It is striking because it has straight, bold lines and relies on colors, just like a picture a child would make playfully. Or like the picture Grand Canyon with an accent on color and subtle and naive lines devoid of emotion.

To confirm her assertion, three senior painters Nana Bana, Hidayat as well as curator/painter, Diyanto, said that there was a striking difference between her works and her father's. She portrays nature in an abstract and at the same time stylized way. Abstract patterns and subtle strokes in her paintings depict the condition of her soul, psychological concepts, shock, admiration and happiness.

Born on Dec. 24, 1963, and married to Juniarto Ridwan, she now has three children. Her husband, a noted poet from Bandung, said that her father had never interfered with her creativity, except by providing moral support; it all evolved naturally.

"I paint because I want to move toward the quality of life, the balance within my life through art" she shared with The Jakarta Post, adding that the strength of colors and lines were her painting style.

She continues to paint and write literary works besides teaching at an institute in Bandung. According to her, the two activities invigorate her life.

In the world of literature, whether as a short story or novel writer, she is regarded as prolific. Many of her works have been published in several media such as Kompas, Kartini and Sarinah. Kembang Ilalang (Flower of course grass), Pengemis dan Seruling (Beggar and flute) and Sebuah Karunia (A Blessing) are among her novels that have been published, while her collection of short stories entitled Sunset in Aberdeen was published a few years ago.

Through her solo exhibition Imagery Games, Tetet hopes that in order to make progress, women painters will start thinking about woman's issues in life as these issues can be addressed not only in seminars and writing but also through paintings.