SPIRIT ’90 EXHIBITION: THE EXPRESSION OF CONSCIENCE WHICH FIND A PLACE AGAIN

Harian Bernas, Minggu Kliwon, 20 Februari 1994

THE WILD THING, 1994
(Dr. Oei Hong Djien's collection)

Four other prominent painters that I noted were Yani Halim, Moch Basori, Multazam Kamil and Temmy Setiawan. Yani’s artworks, 'Love, Devil and Wild Bords' and 'Ridiculous Love Stories', Basori’s artwork, 'Dari Balik Jendela Sunyi', Multazam’s artwork, 'The Wild Thing' are the works which strong language and content. They wrapped the idea with the 'language forms' which held convincingly.

FINE ARTS, especially painting in the city of Yogyakarta has its own history and special creative way. This may be quite closely related to the circumstances of the undeniable Yogyakarta as one of the cities which keeps dynamics and exceptional magma of art. Art in the city of endless created by artists, almost ever drought of ideas.

Creation and creativity always hand in hand has launched a new sprinkling which is always exciting. Fine art (again, especially painting) is the one of the full expression media that blast even exploded made by Yogyakarta artists from time to time. Although the unforgettable rebel movement in the art world a broader embryo and then his motor activity also occurred in the city of Yogyakarta.

Entering the second month of 1994, several artists (young artists) in Yogyakarta make a movement, although it is quite conservative but have a sense of interest, especially for painting maps of Yogyakarta (Indonesia). The first is the Yogyakarta Young Painters exhibition (January '94) that is not very attractive even weak in the curation process. And the second is a painting exhibition (group) of Spirit '90 (February, 5-10, 1994), both held at Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta.

The exhibition that organized by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts (FSR) ISI Yogyakarta force in 1990, consists of 24 people who joined in the (group) Spirit '90 is interesting and worthy of mention.

First, in the context of the current competition between people that keeps pace with tough, against a backdrop of growing erosion of team spirit, they actually present in the spirit of the Group of confident, firm and orderly. They are working and seriously in the preparation of the work, and in preparation for the exhibition. We know, group work, especially for artists, who tend to be selfish, not easy to coordinate. But it seems, the spirit and romance of sufficient strength is one of the factors in their favor for the Organization of activities. If they can keep this as a ‘power’ of the group, not only the exhibitions, but also (hopefully) the thought. As a young artist who still have enough time, they have the opportunity to equip themselves thought process and explore creativity and desire to be different in the future.

Second, the works that they present the average seems to indicate a higher class, if you watch the age class (education), that they follow. Most of them show together is quite encouraging. One thing i noted with interest that they offer the expression of conscience which registry free from full trust, potential and find a place (again) in the middle of a connoisseur of painting.

The expression of conscience that I mean is the reappearance of the total expression, tend to abstract and distant from arrange the shape or form, as well as other key elements. Because during this time that impression organize – and because of that the work losing expression and its mystery – that always we find in each event.

Their work appears to intend an abstract expression of reality and reality expression of abstraction according to their conscience. Look for example, I Nyoman Sukari, 'Bali Action' and 'Bali Night’ that process the breathing of art forms in accordance with the Bali tradition with modern ways. Manner of writing (brushtroke) that so expressive, wet paint that's left to melt everywhere, the choice of heavy colors and playing random fields, is that the visual value. That is can be seen to in the work of Ida Bagus Wayan Baskara Krishna Santi, 'Berkelana Dalam Gejolak Putih' or 'Bersimpang Dalam Senandung Putih', which offers the absurdity of dreams in Bali idiom.

Then Rudy Pariasa’s artwork, I Made Wiradana, I Wayan Sunadi or I Ketut Tenang, showing the spirit of Bali that is ‘only’ process the ornaments and more simple. Herman Susila and Burhanuddin offer a breath of surrealistic fantasy. While the game's watercolor of Tommy Faisal Alim expected to jump more than one technical game.

Four other prominent painters that I noted were Yani Halim, Moch Basori, Multazam Kamil and Temmy Setiawan. Yani’s artworks, 'Love, Devil and Wild Bords' and 'Ridiculous Love Stories', Basori’s artwork, 'Dari Balik Jendela Sunyi', Multazam’s artwork, 'The Wild Thing' are the works which strong language and content. They wrapped the idea with the 'language forms' which held convincingly.

The different offering is the work of Temmy Setiawan. It seemed to have the spirit of surfing, the spirit of exploration of the area to accommodate their ideas. Look at their strongest, 'Penghasilan yang Tak Seisi Perut' with leaves that have original wooden frame which form the elements, strong and unified. Or his other works, 'Di Pintu Ku Menghadap, di Pintu Ku Berharap', which uses a sheet of leaf of the intact door as a "canvas" of painting. Exploration is compelling, and certainly could be expected to enrich the form of expression of Indonesian art.

Spirit '90 is a group of young artists as well as the fine arts potential of the city of Yogyakarta. They expressed themselves appear as a search for the true essence. Exhibition is the milestones and a touchstone of them; would survive and continue to capture the artist's profession that full of challenges, or later retired from the scene of fierce competition. The competition was won by identity, rather than outside it.

If they, either among them are trapped in the 'out of the affairs of artists’, they was satisfied with speed, ease will be deleted artists predicate (artists) who have a true identity.

The struggle of fine art competition is complex and difficult. For the Spirit ’90, congratulation and to the reality of an open process ever more with the spirit and strong ‘faith’ or leave the arena immediately.

SUWARNO WISETROTOMO
(Art critic and lecturer Design and Fine Arts Faculty Indonesia Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta)