Young graphic artist displays his talent

Young graphic artist displays his talent

Susi Andrini, Contributor, Sanur

Graphic art has been gaining popularity among young and talented
Balinese artists, including Edo Wulia.

In a display of his work at a solo exhibition, Moments Within,
at Retro Fine Arts in Sanur, Edo has been showcasing his fresh
ideas.

To view Edo's work is like taking a journey to an endless
point. The works also reflect joy, hope but also a hollowness and
sadness.

In his black-and-white work entitled Moments Within (July
2005), Edo tells a story within himself. There are seven people
walking and dancing through an endless road. Two heads with
piercing eyes stare at each other. The work symbolizes the long
journey of human beings; some are successful, and others fail, as
reflected in the falling leaves.

In Life Goes On (l992), Edo tries to illustrate various icons
portraying the sun, animals, humans and plantations. These are
things that occupy the earth and the universe. The work features
a chain of life in which all creatures and things depend on each
other. Human beings heavily depend on animals and plantations as
sources of food.

In Journey (1999), Edo portrays the early life of a man,
illustrated by a woman's uterus. As compared to his previous
works, Journey 4, Cosmos 1, Cosmos 2, Cosmos 3, Cosmos 4, reflect
he has developed rapidly in terms of content and techniques.

Edo now freely explores a variety of subject matter, colors
and brush techniques, making his works more alive.

Originating from the fourth century in China, graphic art has
grown enormously as a respected art form. In the 17th century,
graphic art was developed in Japan as ukiyo-e, as recorded in an
ancient Japanese art book Ise Monogatan, published in 1650.

The book tells the story about old Japanese arts and the birth
of a new fine art form known as ukiyo-e (woodcut printing).

It continued to be used to produce complementary posters and
visual art work to decorate theater stages when performing Kabuki
theater.

In the West, ukiyo-e art was later developed as graphic art
using a variety of techniques such woodcut, linograph and now
digital print. Thanks to the rapid growth of technology, graphic
art is now flourishing via high-tech printing technology.

In Indonesia, graphic art pioneers include Baharoedin
Marasoetan, Mochtar Apin, G. Sidharta, S. Prinka, F.X. Harsono
and Tisna Sanjaya.

In view of his tender years, Edo could well become one of
Indonesia's youngest and most promising graphic artists.

Edo nurtured his career as a graphic artist. A graduate from
the Percussion Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California
in l996, Edo is known as a music teacher.

He continued his studies at the Yogyakarta Arts Institute
(ISI) in l998, majoring in graphic art.

Edo's persistence in improving his drawing skill and technique
deserve commendation, especially as graphic art is considered
less worthy than other types of fine art.

In order to reach maturity, Edo needs to work harder. The
world is still wide open for young artists like him. By holding
exhibitions and workshops, it is expected that Edo's works could
be improved. Positive input from art critics is sorely needed to
support young artists and to create a healthy art environment in
the country.

It is also necessary to arouse people's awareness and
understanding of the graphic arts. It is gratifying to discover
that many art galleries and institutions pay serious attention to
the development of graphic arts and support this young, fresh
talent.

in box:
Moments Within
solo exhibition of graphic art by Edo Wulia
Retro Fine Arts
Jl. Danau Tamblingan 126A
Sanur

tel. (0361) 282472

exhibition runs through Set. 16