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