Group Exhibition of Paintings.
At Gaya Art Space, Jl. Raya Sayan, Ubud. Tel: 979252.
Can art break down barriers amongst cultures? Maybe art is the best window into another culture especially if we believe that art in general, and painting in particular, is a universal visual language which allows an immediate encounter with another culture. Contact with the art of another culture can help one understand that other culture better, since art is an expression of history, attitude and outlook. The exhibition, ‘Foot Bridge: Building Bridges thru Art ’09 Bali’, currently showing at Gaya Art Space, features artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Korea, and it represents mainland Asia trying to forge a relationship using art to build bridges to Indonesia. The artists in the show believe that art can transcend boundaries, race, languages and cultures, and that the medium of art can reveal the culture and ideas of a nation to an audience, for the purposes of fostering friendships and connecting people.
Because of the diverse and different cultural backgrounds of the participating artists, the subject of identity becomes a valid and relevant issue in the exhibition. Each country has a long tradition of preserving and sustaining their ancient cultures. A large number of the displayed works are inspired by, or based on, the traditions of decorative visual forms. To the participating artists these traditions are more than just a language of expression, or a symbol of the past. For them, the tradition of decorative visual forms has become equal with the meaning of contemporary identity.
In works such as Thanakorn Sila Boonrat’s ‘Lotus’ it is possible to see that decoration, like patterning and ornamentation, is the link which connects the practices of traditional arts and subject matter with contemporary visual expression. Further, several of the works, such as Achmad Sopandi’s ‘Spirit Ethnic’, use traditional patterning with the principles of Western abstract art. The use of patterning, calligraphy, and naive narratives highlights the fact that China, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia posses a similar repository of knowledge and a parallel esthetic ideology. By using decorative visual forms as a communal form of expression, the participating artists hope to build a warm bridge which will connect these Asian nations.
Encounter
Group Exhibition of Paintings.
At Hanna Art Space, Jl. Raya Pengosekan, Ubud. Tel: 08179730898.
The Hanna Art Space exhibition ‘Encounter’ springs from a group of Indonesian artists who participated in the ‘International Contemporary Art Fair 2008’, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On returning to Indonesia an idea arose to continue the feelings of togetherness generated by the artists, during their trip to Malaysia, by creating an exhibition in Bali.
Even though Malaysia is similar to Indonesia, both geographically and culturally, the reality that Malaysia is different from Indonesia cannot be ignored. Many things can be found in Malaysia which cannot be found in Indonesia, and vice a versa. Travelling to this foreign country was an opportunity for Indonesian artists to discover new things, new places, and a new atmosphere. Mixed feelings, such as happiness, confusion, warmth and astonishment, were a result of their visit, and these reactions, of course, inspired new fresh creative inspirations for their artworks.
Consequently, the exhibition ‘Encounter’ displays some of the responses the Indonesian artists were able to have following their trip to Malaysia. For example, in his canvas ‘Melangkah Dengan Mantap’, Made Somadita compares the simplicity of rural Balinese life with the splendors of an urbanized Malaysia, while, in the canvas ‘The Moment’, Wayan Handoko finds much amusement with the accoutrements of international travel. The exhibition successfully exposes the results, reactions and responses of a creative journey, for a group of Indonesian artists, which totally captivated their minds, bodies and souls.
Alternative Universe
Paintings by Putu Wirantawan.
At Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Resort, Jimbaran Bay. Tel: 701010.
In the Indonesian contemporary art scene, Putu Wirantawan can be regarded as a visionary hermit working uninfluenced by his contemporaries. Born in Negara, Putu’s remarkable talents were recognized at an early age, and he was sent to study at the Indonesian Academy of Arts in Denpasar, graduating in 1993. Putu has since developed a completely individual style and technique. Obsessed with detail, he works with pencil on paper, occasionally enhanced with a touch of watercolor. The results are an exciting and mysterious glimpse into his alternative universe.
In his current exhibition, ‘Alternative Universe’, on display at the Ganesha Gallery, the artist features two series of works. The first of these, including pieces such as ‘Blessing’, have an architectural form, containing various circular and pyramidal shapes. These elaborate structures, and the magical symbols which hover over them, seem to vibrate and glow with a mysterious power. The second series, ‘Connected Circles’, includes an amazing work entitled ‘In The Circle’, which features 12 separate images. These appear to be a cross between Hindu-Buddhist Mandalas and CD discs. In spite of the nature of the composition, which binds them all together, every image also stands alone. While it is easy to speculate on hidden meanings within the works, Putu Wirantawan refuses to deny or affirm any underlying spiritual values. His art, he claims, springs from his own imagination, and it has no pretense of projecting its values on others. Those who attend his exhibition will be highly intrigued.
