Thursday, December 1, 2011

SIDHartA Fine Art Auction, 11 December 2011 Message from Sidharta Auctioneer

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SIDHartA Fine Art Auction, 11 December 2011

Message from Sidharta Auctioneer

In the past two years we have noticed the return of the most serious of collectors of Indonesian Fine Art in embracing once again the works of Modern Indonesian Masters. Indeed, Indonesian Fine Art tells the story about the development of our social, political, cultural and artistic identity. As a relatively young nation, art plays an important role in our nation-building, and this has been emphasized by President Sukarno's formidable art collection. Just as Sukarno's collection stemmed from a modest personal collection, more and more Indonesians realize that they too can start building their very own modest personal collections as part of this renewed awareness of our nation's culture. Appreciation for art does not usually happen instantly in museums and galleries, but it often involves a long process that starts at home. This is the reason why it is equally important to develop private collections at home as it is to develop grander national collections for museums.

As usual, many of the lots we offer in our Fine Art auction have been sourced from private collections that have not previously appeared in public viewing. The collectors have deliberately placed the pieces in our auction with the intention of finding new homes for their wonderful artworks, so that the new collectors can enjoy and share the art with their family, as well as friends and acquaintances who visit their homes.

A good part of the collection featured in this auction comes from the collection of a pioneering gallery owner and his prominent Jakarta-based art gallery. The works of members of the Affandi family from a collection of a close member of the Affandi family, featured in this auction, is a continuation of the collection offered in our previous Fine Art auction in May. This time, the pieces featured consist of several of Affandi's works as well as some wonderful paintings and artworks by Maryati, the maestro’s wife, who accompanied and painted along with Affandi during his travels in Europe in the 1970s. Some of the best paintings by Affandi’s daughter Kartika and former son-in-law Sapto Hoedoyo complete the collection. 

Many works from dating from the 1960s to 1980s in this auction have come from the collections of avid art enthusiasts who have meticulously built their collections throughout the years. As a "ring of fire", it is only natural that volcanoes and mountains would be one of the most favorite subjects of the artists. In this auction there are two particularly monumental paintings of volcanoes by Siauw Tik Kwie, and other painting of a volcano in the background of a seascape by Dullah. There are also smaller mountainous landscapes by Yudhi, Dullah and Kasenda.

Artists who were involved with Lekra, the People's Cultural Institute, created art more as political statements rather than partisan slogans. Many have depicted historical paintings that remind us of the struggle of the people during the Indonesian Revolutionary War (1945-1949). A painting by Tatang Ganar offered in this auction depicts resting guerillas during the Revolutionary War in Bandung. It shows a human side of the heroism of the militia. Another painting depicts a field kitchen during the Revolutionary War. Although unsigned, the manner in which the figures in the scene are formed, the use of the medium of oils on paper laid on board, and the brushstrokes of the artist, clearly show that the painting is a work by the prominent artist Hendra Gunawan, dating to the period of the War.
While many of the works in our auction are by artists from Yogyakarta, we also feature works by prominent artists residing in Bandung, and painting in the so-called Bandung School of modernism. A work by Mochtar Apin is a depiction of a European landscape, depicted in a Cubist style, typical of the Bandung School. A painting by But Muchtar shows the culmination of his abstraction. This work is no longer an attempt to depict form; it is a purely a composition of shapes and colors. Srihadi Soedarsono's fine watercolor of a European landscape is not to be missed, and neither is his later painting of a Balinese dancer, the cover piece of our auction.

Many works in this auction are works of sculpture. Mello Tedesco's figurative pieces are bronze works made using a classical technique. I Wayan Modern's pieces have been intricately carved in a manner that is more sophisticated than other Balinese sculpture. Works by Ketut Tongos and Made Dini are witty depictions of mythical creatures that are certainly very distinct from classical Balinese works of sculpture. More modern pieces of sculpture in this auction consist of Edith Ratna's abstract forms and Ibnu Nurwanto's abstractions of figures done in wood and bronze. There are also works by younger artists Johan Abe and Intan Abdams made in fiber glass and resin.

There are many other pieces in our auction that have wonderful artistic and historical value. Among others, there is a work by enigmatic painter Emiria Soenassa, dating from 1957. You can also find other hidden treasures by Anton Huang and Dullah, very important Indonesian painters, as well as other painters. We hope that the lots we offer will catch the attention of some true art enthusiasts  who will be interested in adding them to their art collections. Although you might have started to collect art with financial investment in mind, we hope that sooner rather than later you will also realize that by collecting art you are also investing in our cultural identity and diversity.

Happy bidding! Enjoy the art!

Amir Sidharta

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