Artist : Joko Sulistiono & Edo Pillu
Genre : Paintings
Period : May 6 till June 30
Everyday, 9.00AM till 6.00PM
Location : Jenggala Keramik
Jl. Uluwatu ll, Jimbaran
Tel: 703311
A strong belief in the values and traditions that shape the characters and interests of human beings are the inspiration for the work of two artists, Joko Sulistiono and Edo Pillu, who are showing together in an exhibition entitled ‘Java Fundamental’. Both artists have also been inspired by the Javanese traditions that they hold close to their hearts. These values and traditions are a steady reminder of where they came from and where they wish to belong. Much appreciation towards their Javanese heritage is expressed in their fascinating artwork, but, to the Western Eye, there is another influence present in their paintings and that is the unmistakable touch of Surrealism.
Possibly the most enduring and influential Western Art Movement of the 20th Century, Surrealism initially developed in 1921 as an offshoot of Dada. Its objective was to make accessible to art the realms of the unconscious, the irrational and the imaginary. Heavily influenced by Freud’s psychoanalytical theories, the Surrealists considered themselves representatives of a new frame of mind, and tried to impart to their canvases that which disturbed man most: The unguarded, or unconscious, release of his own secret desires and inclinations. The Surrealists created calculating dream-like images by means of illusionary objectivity. Surrealism went on to affectpractically every art movement that followed, and its influence can still be observed in the younger generation of artists of today. It is without a doubt that Joko Sulistiono and Edo Pillu have both been touched and entranced by its spell.
Joko Sulistiono was born on April 10, 1970 in Grobogan, Central-Java, and graduated from the Indonesian Institute of Art, Jogyakarta, in 2000. Joko fluently combines reality and imagination in his paintings, and he finds “the unlimited possibilities to express and create technical formations, shapes and ideas through my art. The variety of possibilities presents me with the indefinite freedom to explore my mind and taste, which I convey through my artwork. Art is the possibility itself”. Joko’s delicate canvases abound with dream-like images. In these ethereal paintings traditional Javanese actors play with high-tech robots, as the old and the new confront each other for supremacy. Wayang Golek (Wooden Puppets) make love as a myriad of rose buds float above their heads like cartoon thought bubbles. A horse proceeds across a desolate landscape, and in the distance a phantasmagorical city can just be observed. Javanese temples and bass-relief carvings can be faintly detected, and gold embellished patterns, derived from Javanese textiles, create shimmering and sparkling backgrounds. Joko’s paintings are rich with Javanese traditions, but it is his mysterious symbolism that truly captivates.
Edo Pillu was born on June 5, 1969 in Bandung, West-Java, and he also graduated from the Indonesian Institute of Art, Jogyakarta, in 1997. As an artist Edo feels the need to express himself, his mind and his life on canvases in an attempt to find the true meaning of life. “The more I learn about life, the more I discover and the hungrier I become. Such complexity in daily life events reminds all of us of God’s scenario; nothing is as perfect as God’s plan. And to keep us wondering and guessing are part of the game”. Edo’s painting style is more robust and aggressive than Joko’s. Edo employs small, square brushstrokes that make his canvases appear to be created from mosaic tiles. This technique enhances the impression that we are not looking at ‘depictions of reality’ but ‘illusions of reality’. Nevertheless, Edo’s work enchants with the same illusive, surrealistic charm found in Joko’s canvases. In Edo’s paintings distorted female nudes appear like islands, or mountain ranges, emerging from a mist. A contorted body takes on the appearance of a tree, sprouting roots and branches, and a superb portrait of a bull suggests all the virility of a sexual dream symbol. However, in one of Edo’s works, his art references pre-date Surrealism and go all the way back to the Baroque.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593) was a baroque painter born in Milan. Grotesque allegories brought Arcimboldo much acclaim in his lifetime, and were often imitated. The original meaning of the term ‘grotesque’, as applied to art, is an image, in particular a portrait, which is created from other forms such as vegetables and flowers. After his death, Arcimboldo’s popularity faded and his subject matter was treated with derision. It was not until the 20th Century, and the development of Surrealism, that his fame was revived. In his satirically named painting ‘Ha..ha..ha..’, Edo creates an image of a puppy-dog that is made up of various pieces of rocks and stones, much as Arcimboldo did with flowers, fruit and food. The reference is unambiguous, and it is this cheeky sense of humor that enlivens and refreshes Edo’s work.
The collaboration between Joko Sulistiono and Edo Pillu, in their exhibition at Jenggala Art Gallery, is proof of two artists able to adapt their traditions and heritages to the contemporary changes surrounding and influencing their lives. The fact that they can do this with much skill and ironic humor is only to their credit. This show is highly recommended and should not be missed!
