Artist : Agus Budiyanto
Genre : Watercolor Paintings
Period : December 16 till February 6
Everyday, 9.00AM till 6.00PM
Location : Jenggala Art Gallery
Jalan Uluwatu II, Jimbaran
Tel: 703311
Agus Budiyanto was born on July 25, 1960 in Jakarta. It was
Agus’ passion for art that drove him to learn about
painting, as he never attended any art institutes. Everything
came naturally to him as he tried his first brushstroke on
paper. Being challenged and intrigued by watercolor, he chose
this medium to spontaneously capture or render his emotions
and interpretations of his surroundings. As a medium where
even the slightest mistake is not allowed, watercolor necessitates
the full concentration of an experienced artist. Unlike some
artists, who find watercolor less interesting and challenging,
Agus is one of the few Indonesian artists who are committed
to creating watercolor paintings. This dedication Agus maintains
to his art is beautifully displayed in his current show, ‘Poetry
of Rain’. It is an excellent exhibition, which showcases
Agus’ deep sensitivity and painterly skills.
During his 26 years journey in painting, Agus has received
5 awards of recognition from various associations that have
established him as one of Indonesia’s most renowned
watercolor artists. He has held 8 solo exhibitions in Bandung
and Jakarta, as well as participated in 38 group exhibitions
in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. Whether
it is representing Indonesia in the International Art World
through group shows, or holding solo exhibitions, Agus always
chooses the theme that is closest to his heart: Indonesia,
the land of beauty. Inspired by the eternal splendor of nature
and the rich culture of Indonesia, Agus’ work demonstrates
his maturity, as well as his spontaneity, in portraying a
wide range of images from beaches, harbors, villages, cities,
trees, flowers, animals and people. His subject matter is
as diverse as Indonesia itself, but, in this exhibition, ‘Poetry
of Rain’, Agus presents his latest series of paintings
with ‘rain’ as the concept.
Talking about his concept, Agus says: “Rain is a blessing
from God for the continuity of human lives and all creations
on Earth. Esthetically, rain has high value and it presents
the objects with different meanings, between the real and
the unreal. And, in my opinion, watercolor is the perfect
medium to visualize rain”. Agus’ observation on
the expressive qualities of watercolors to depict his concept
is very astute. Whether he is applying the watercolors in
brushstrokes, sponge-daubs or controlled splashes and dribbles,
the visual effects of the different moods and temperaments
of ‘rain’ are superbly captured in his paintings.
Agus also understands the paper on which he creates his work.
He knows precisely how much the paper will absorb or repel.
With this blending of brush, sponge or splash work, reacting
with the absorption of the paper, Agus can create remarkable
effects, ranging from drizzles, downpours, chaotic cloud formations
and mysterious fogs. These effects act as a screen over his
landscapes and cityscapes, through which his people or places
emerge and dissolve in impressionistic or infinite space.
From the many wonderful paintings to be found in Agus’
exhibition, perhaps the following two exemplify the magical
‘real’ and ‘unreal’ quality of ‘rain’
that Agus seeks to illustrate. Maybe it is evening, but, in
the painting ‘Puisi Warna di Sudat Jakarta’ (Poetry
of Colors at a Jakarta Corner) a group of purple pedestrians,
clutching their umbrellas, hurry across the bottom right-hand
corner of the painting dwarfed by the city buildings and twinkling
lights, that occupy the rest of the image, and which are blurred
into a tropical downpour of kaleidoscopic-rainbow-colored
rain. The painting captures the exhilaration of a big city,
with all the pleasures that city nightlife can offer, after
this cleansing moment of rain. Jakarta is pictured as a dreamlike
fantasyland. ‘Hujan Runtuh Ke Dalam Buih Abadi’
(Rain Pours over Foaming Eternal Breakers), is a more somber
painting. Sky, sea and rock blend together in robust brushstrokes,
splashes and daubs of grey, white and black watercolor. Through
this turbulent mix of rain and crashing waves can be glimpsed
the jagged outcrop of Tanah Lot. Utilizing the inherent mysticism
of this island, Agus creates an eerie image of the temple,
dedicated to the deities of the seas, being engulfed by manifestations
of its own spirits. It is a powerful, mysterious, painting
full of majesty and awe.
With this exhibition, ‘Poetry of Rain’, Agus Budiyanto
aims to “introduce watercolor painting to the people
and art community of Bali. Hopefully, by presenting a wide
range of different techniques this exhibition will be able
to increase people’s interest and response to watercolor
painting”. Agus succeeds extremely well in achieving
this goal, for his virtuoso painting skills will leave viewers
dazzled by the subtlety of watercolors and their potentialities.
But, the triumph of this show is Agus’ works themselves,
as they carry us to a higher emotional plane where we can
contemplate the eternal mysteries of nature. A contemplation
that rests deep in Agus’ soul.
