Tetet's exhibition reveals her distinctive style

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.