Artists : I Nyoman Sujana ‘Kenyem’
Genre : Paintings
Period : October 21 till December 15
Everyday, 9.00AM till 6.00PM
Location : Jenggala Art Gallery
Jl. Uluwatu II, Jimbaran
Tel: 703311
I Nyoman Sujana, better know as Kenyem, was born on September 9, 1972 in Sayan, Ubud, Bali. He is one of the few native painters of the Ubud area who has been able to break away from the local painting traditions. Kenyem was first trained as an artist at the Young Artists Community in the nearby Penestanan area. In 1992, Kenyem continued his studies at the Indonesian Art Institute (STSI) in Denpasar. After graduating from the STSI in 1998, Kenyem’s work evolved into many series that related to nature, animals and human beings. All his artworks convey the same message, that “a better life is achieved through harmonious living between human beings and nature”.
Fundamentally, the artistic style of Expressionism concentrates on painting emotions instead of physical reality. It attempts to evoke something in the realm of feelings and moods to an audience. Kenyem’s bold canvases depict his emotions, and observations on his daily life and surroundings, in a blaze of emotive color and brushwork. He builds up dense layers of paint in repetitive square or geometric patterns, with vibrant complimentary colors of red, yellow and blue, in various shades and hues. The brushwork is intense, confident and forthright. Into this rich, opaque, thick paint are scratched line drawings of leaves. “Leaves have been an everlasting source of inspiration for my paintings. Most of my paintings portray leaves as the main subject or as an ornament that enriches the ideas I am trying to capture on canvas. The leaves seem able to bring my thoughts alive into reality”. As a starting point for contemplation, these paintings “leave plenty of room for the viewer’s interpretation on the meaning of leaves in reality and in my imagination”. The expression and progression of Kenyem’s theme in this exhibition, ‘The Abstraction of Leaves’, can be found and appreciated in three key paintings:
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Abstraksi Daun III’
The commencement of an intriguing quest begins with this luxuriant red painting. The color red can suggest many sensations. Rage, Lust, Fear, Pain and Passion, to name just a few. It is a very highly evocative color. Against a vivid, dramatic background, five leaves struggle to escape the encompassing paint. Finally, one perfect leaf is born from this dense ‘primeval red ooze’, and can then go forth to spread wonder and joy. “Leaves provide space. Leaves are motions. Leaves are the light of hope and leaves can fly freely…”
‘
Abstraksi Daun VI’
Complimented by a beautifully balanced background of Navy, Turquoise, Cerulean and Pale Blue squares and rectangles, two white leaves float in perfect placement. The canvas suggests Peace, Contentment, Serenity and Unity. The painting implies the Spiritual Fulfillment that can be achieved by tempering volatile human emotions with the tranquil accord of nature. In this work, Kenyem places equal stress on the depiction of human emotions and the subtle balancing and positioning of his symbolic ethereal leaves. “They compliment each other, creating an illustration of harmony on the canvas”.
‘
Daun Kuning III’
In this work, violent, passionate geometric shapes, created by robust and energetic brushstrokes, in harsh tones of Black, Navy and Blue are contained within the stylized contour of a human figure. Much intense work has gone into creating this form. Hovering before it, just out of reach, is a shimmering golden leaf. A suggestion of an unobtainable, yet, desired goal. A suggestion of enlightenment incarnate. Kenyem implies that, for him, “leaves represent a symbol of all human beings hopes for a better and a brighter kind of life”.
Talking about his work, Kenyem says that “My interaction with leaves has been a long contemplation on how leaves have been able to bring an artistic value visually into my paintings. The depiction of leaves presents me with the freedom to explore and express creatively”. With his remarkable ability to capture and depict a wide range of human emotions, and coupled with his unique personal symbol, or Icon, of the simple emblematic leaf, within these paintings Kenyem is able to take his audience on a journey from Innocence, to Awareness, through a search for Spiritual Enlightenment. This is a voyage of Mythical proportions, and these exceptional paintings charter its course. Kenyem has been acclaimed as one of the most outstanding and respected artists working in Bali. This exhibition can only enhance his reputation.
