In Memoriam: Indonesian writer NH Dini

Today is a sad day. We received news of the passing of renowned writer and mother of Pierre  N.H. Dini in Semarang.

In 2007 we featured in our Fine Art auction three postcards from Rusli, addressed to N.H. Dini. It included a note to the young writer and was painted with his watercolors on the reverse.

             



Here is an image of one of the post cards with our write-up, including a transcription of the note Rusli wrote to N.H. Dini:

When Rusli met Dini

As a young junior high school student in the early 1950s, writer Nh. Dini was interested
in various fields, including art. Reading a report in the Minggu Pagi magazine, she
learned about the painter Rusli (1916-2005) of the Seniman Indonesia Muda group. Eager
to know more about the artists of the city of culture, she wrote a letter to the artist,
starting a chain of correspondence between the two. Dini would write to the painter
whenever she had something to say, while Rusli would send the young writer postcards
embellished with landscapes that he painted using watercolors during his trips out to the
countryside.

Eventually Dini came to visit Rusli, who took her to Kaliurang to choose
sceneries that he would paint. Upon her return to Semarang, they continued their
correspondence. Rusli would send her postcards illustrated with more sceneries that he
painted along with memos to Dini. Three of the postcards are featured as lot # in this
auction.

While in her Sekayu memoirs, Dini claimed that Rusli never indicated if he
enjoyed meeting her, in the first postcard in this lot, dated 15 February 1953, Rusli wrote
about how happy he was having received Dini’s letter, and how he read them over and
over again. In his third post card dated 17 June 1953, that seems to have been written
after he paid a reciprocal visit to Semarang, he conveyed his happiness having met her
and her family and through the words: “a breeze of emptiness has started to be felt” and
“must the dearth of tomorrow await me?” he more than implied his thoughts that he has
started to be missing his new young friend.

Through the words and gestures of the painter it seemed that he had become
enamored with the young writer. Yet, it seemed that he was reluctant to pursue an
amorous relationship any further, perhaps particularly because Dini was still a young girl
at the time. However, they continued to be friends and Rusli visited her and her family
regularly in Semarang, where he would paint his many paintings of the harbor.
“Rusli always told his artist friends that he was the one that discovered Nh Dini,
but that is not true because I was the one who wrote him first,” claimed the writer. Yet,
she takes pride in the fact that the painter is modest enough to admit that. Perhaps it could
be said that Dini and Rusli found in each other true and immortal friendship.


Tiga kartu pos dari Rusli kepada Nh. Dini tahun 1953 [ditranskripsikan oleh Henri Chambert-loir]

A) Lukisan yang ditandatangani
Rusli, Kaliurang, Jogja, 15/2/53

                                           Untuk
                                           Saudara N. Dini
                                           Sekaju 348
                                           Semarang

                           Jogja 15 - 2 - "53

Saudara Dini,
Sebagai saja harapkan surat Dini tiba pada
saja Kamis lalu dan kegembiraan meringan-
kan langkah saja, terutama mengulang-ulangi
membatjanja. Sesungguhnja terkadang saja
mulai dengan jang pertama, atau kedua, atau
ketiga, begitulah, semua terkadang. Waktu
jang lalu, saja tidak mendengarkan kuntjup seri
sajang. Saja nantikan sadjalah suara Dini, baik
bukan? Tadi pagi saja ke Kaliurang pula me-
lukis. Udara tjemerlang sekali, dan kilauan
warna bumi menjahut keangkasa. Lalu
lukisan ini untuk Dini. Esok pagi saja
ke Magelang melukis, dan lusa pula dan
keesokannja. Tiga hari pulang-balik.
Dan bila matahari tidak ditabiri awan
hitam akan sedap djuga berpanas-panasan
disana, terlepas dari tempurung Jogja.
Dikala saja menulis ini, saja chajalkan
Dini tentu sedang bersiul-siul dan berden-
dang dihati, hidup dialam djiwa Dini.
Memang demikianlah hendaknja.
Dini sampai disinilah dahulu dan
terima pulalah salam saja ini,

                             Kawanmu
                             (tdt)
                             Jogja
                            15/2/53

          Rusli
          aloon2 Utara 7
          Jogja


             * * * *

B) Lukisan yang ditandatangani
Rusli, 29/3/53

                                  Untuk
                                  Saudara N. Dini
                                  Sekaju 348
                                  Semarang

Dini,
Terimalah salam
saja ini
        Kawanmu
        (tdt)
        Rusli
        aloon2 Utara 7
        Jogja


         * * * *

c) Lukisan yang ditandatangani
Rusli, 29/3/53

                               untuk
                               Saudara N. Dini
                               Sekaju 348
                               Semarang
                               dari
                               Rusli

     17 - 6 - '53
Saudara Dini,
Hari tadi telah membawa saja kembali
ke sanggar dan kekosongan pun mulai me-
niup-niup. Dini, keluarga Sekaju sangat
baik terhadap saja; ibu jang selalu berusaha
mengembirakan, Nugroho jang suka membi-
tjarakan kesenian; kakak Dini jang selalu
tertawa sadja; Teguh jang selalu mengorbankan
waktunja menunjukkan kota, Bambang jang
menjenangkan itu dan Dini jang selalu
ada, selalu duduk disudut memegang
madjalah, tenang, selalu tertawa dari sudut.
Dini, kegembiraan jang saja bawa pulang ini, kokoh
sebagai garis langit jang tenang itu, tiada tertum-
bangkan badai ataupun gelombang gegilaan
dunia dengan segala dengki dan siasat-me-
njiasatinja jang hanja ingin menghantjur-
kan daja kemadjuan. Dini, dalam waktu
dan djangka menarik kita lepas dari detik
kegembiraan itu, ingin kita mengulurkan
lengan kembali untuk menggenggam
erat detik itu dan melepaskan diri
dari detik dan djangka. Mesti pulakah
ketandusan pagi esok menanti?
Baiklah.
Lalu bagaimana per-
                     Rusli
                     aloon2 Utara 7
                     Jogja

Sidharta Artfordable Auction 9 December 2018 | Top Lots

Sidharta Artfordable Auction 9 December 2018 | Top Lots

This forthcoming Artfordable Auction presented by SIDHartA Auctioneer offers a wide range of artworks from all artists alike such as new upcoming artists to Indonesia's iconic matured visionaries. The collection of accumulated artworks depict Asia's fine artists and their individual aesthetics in expression.  The following lots that are showcased portrays the top highlighted artworks within this December's Artfordable Auction. 

"Panen di Jawa" by Iwan Sulistyo

(Lot #516)

Born in Kudus of Central Java, Iwan Sulistyo had a deep appreciation for the arts since his youth. In his early childhood, he was noted to have spent most of his time drawing anything his eyes laid upon. Sulistyo was an active participant within the local Indonesian art scene and achieved higher education within Fine Arts in Trisakty University. Sulistyo was keen in accurately depicting his surrounding environment and often based his artworks from his direct landscape. A large range of his artworks showcase naturalistic scenarios that are native to the daily lives of the painted locals. In the painting entitled "Panen di Jawa", Sulistyo shows a vast landscape of paddy fields during the blooming its season. The rice farmers are seen harvesting the paddy in-front of a hilltop background of a mountain. 

"Ruri" by Jeihan Sukmantoro 

(Lot #530)

The nationally acclaimed Indonesian painter, Jeihan Sukmantoro, had endured great difficulty in his lifetime which further enriched his artworks. At the tender age of 15, he suffered a near death experience which resulted in a deep comatose state that would affect his cognitive abilities.  Although Sukmantoro never finished higher education, his Expressionist style and mystic philosophy became widely spread. He favoured to paint portraits with limited colours and simple shapes. His subjects would always be painted with fully blacks eyes which are believed to represent the darkness of humanity. This oil painting is a portrait of a girl who bears the name of its title, “Ruri”. She is submerged into Sukmantoro’s vision, saturated in a two-tone palette with black eyes directly staring at the viewer. 

"Beautyful London" by Erica Hestu Wahyuni 

(Lot #535)

Since her early years, Erica Hestu Wahyuni, the Indonesia fine artist expressed her passion for the arts. In the pursuit of higher education, she was enrolled and graduated from the Indonesian Fine Art Institute in Jogjakarta and the Surikov Institute of Art in Russia. As one of the most promising female artist who comes from Indonesia, her beginnings were difficult to overcome as many of her peers and instructors often looked down at her colourful creations.  However, she triumphs through the criticism and continues to climb the chain of becoming the top sought after artists of South East Asia. Her work is often defined as visually childish and naive but are mature in conception and definition. This artwork depicts a London city-scape exploding with iconic British imagery . 

"Menuju Puncak" by Nunung Rianto 

(Lot #551)

The Indonesian artist, Nunung Rianto, is a strong advocate for the preservation and care of our environment. His passion towards the well-being of this Earth is evidently present in his artworks as the conception behind his painting stems from his view against the manipulation of natural resources and habitats for the benefit of human consumerism. In his Surrealist styled paintings, Rianto showcases the outcome of deforestation and over-harvesting land which leaves an empty plot of space which becomes inhabitable for all living organisms. In his paintings, the destroyed landscapes are accompanied by a glass container often used to hold alcoholic beverages, which in this case is a wine glass, which within it is an isolated green oasis. This symbolises how the harvested essence of nature becomes scarce due to how humanity is addicted and drunk on the idea of claiming and materialising it. 

 " Lenong Betawi " by Krijono (Fikri Harris)

(Lot #570)

Coming from a family background heavily associated within the the local Indonesian art world, Krijono was naturally gifted with artistic abilities as his surrounding childhood provided a positive outlook on a creative career. Born in 1951, his father was the curator and owner of Harris Art Gallery in Indonesia and his mother managed a local Batik factory. Krijono often spent his time travelling the world to exhibit his creations and was able to explore different medias and techniques whilst travelling globally. Krijono's signature flare included colourful compositions that were thoroughly expressive and eccentric. In this painting entitled "Lenong Betawi", Krijono paints two female Javanese dancers in dynamic colours. The stroke of lines are blunt and minimal which create energy and movement to the portrait based composition. 

" Tari Pendet " by Nyoman Gunarso

(Lot #583)

Nyoman Gunarso , the Balinese native, was the thoroughly recognised Maestro and icon within the Asian art scene. Within his professional career Gunarso was an impressionist painter and museum curator who became an Indonesian master of fine arts within his lifetime. He graduated from the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute in Jogjakarta in 1976, and was deeply familiar and comfortable within Realist fine arts. As a fresh graduate, he became and art teacher and slowly came to the realisation to feed his craving for Impressionist based art. Soon after, he concentrated in creating abstract contemporary art and gained success from his newfound aesthetic. Within this painting, Gunarso paints a female dancer in traditional Balinese wear. The fluidity in the lines and colour are distinct marks of Gunarso's natural gift in creating visually dynamic works that spark vibrancy and liveliness. 

" Membawa Kayu Bakar " by Gung Anom

(Lot #608)

Gung Anom is a Balinese painter who often presents his surrounding environment through art. With acrylic paint and a brush in hand, he pours his sights onto a blank canvas. A dominant portion of Anom’s works are reminiscent of the Pointillism movement as he often utilises a technique of dabbing dots of colour instead of blending the pigments together. With this technique, the distinction of figures and objects are made through the contrast of colours. However, in this painting titled “Membawa Kayu Bakar” , Anom utilises short strokes of lines alongside these dots. The scene depicted is of a village landscape in a densely forested area. The figures are solely painted white, as if to differentiate themselves from the vibrant surroundings, and are seen harvesting wood to build a communal fire. 

"Shopping " by Brahmbudi Panoedi

(Lot #629)

Brahmbudi Panoedi is a Javanese fine artist that specializes in the artistic media of contemporary painting. An abundance of his artworks are driven with electric energy as the colour palette often depicted is hand-picked to be vivaciously bright and neon. The figures painted by Panoedi ranges from human individuals to animals, all of which were portrayed in a dynamic light as the painter possessed the ability to create movement in an otherwise static medium.  The painting focuses on a young woman carrying a shopping bag against an abstract background. Panoedi plays with complementary colours, primarily orange and blue. The brush strokes and line work are just as bold as the colours which further create visual allure that is both delightful and engaging to view.

"Cat " by Popo Iskandar

(Lot #640)

Popo Iskandar was an Indonesian artist and writer native to the fine arts scene. His upbringing largely inspired his Expressionist and Minimalist style. Within his painting career, he would go through several phases of subject matter such as solely depicting chicken, seas, or bamboo plants for months at a time.  His most notable phase was his cat phase as he had a kinship towards his feline friends. In this painting Popo paints a black fur coated cat with piercing green eyes. His technique is distinct with thick layers of paint that create dimensional texture. When asked about his fondness for cats, Popo simply says, “The nature of cats are varied, spoiled, rebellious and savage, but obedient. That’s why I like it.”

Sidharta Artfordable Auction 9 December 2018 | Message from Sidharta

Dear Art Lovers & Enthusiasts,

Entering the month of December in conclusion of 2018, we present our fourth Sidharta Auctioneer - Alam Sutera Artfordable Auction, which has almost become our annual collaboration with Alam Sutera Realty. As a leading residential developer in Indonesia, Alam Sutera understands and art and culture is an integral part of the lifestyle of its residents. The artworks that we offer are suitable for most of the residents who want to start making art part of their life, especially in terms of quality and price range. 

It has become a “tradition” that the Sidharta Auctioneer - Alam Sutera Artfordable Auction celebrates diversity and dynamism. We present a variety of artworks ranging from newcomers and emerging artists such as Anni Kholilah, Astro, Atmi Kristiadewi, Bonchu Bondho T., Brahmbudi Panoedi and Edi Tonang. There are also selections from Erica Hestu Wahyuni, Faizal, Faizin, Gung Anom, Gunawan Bagea, J.B. Iwan Sulistyo, Jing Chuang Long, Praponco Suprapto, Ketut Sugantika, Made Suraja, and Untung Wahono, whose works quite regularly appear in our Artfordable Auctions, but in this auction there a number of paintings of note, among others Bonny Setiawan’s Dua Sejoli (Lot #585), Gung Anom’s Membawa Kayu Bakar (Lot #608) and Soni Satria’s Seperti Banteng (Lot #577). A few paintings by well-known established artists such as Amrus Natalsya, Hasan Djafar, Nyoman Gunarsa, Jeihan Sukmantoro, Krijono and Popo Iskandar, can also be found in this auction. 

"Dua Sejoli" by Bonny Setiawan

(Lot #585)

"Membawa Kayu Bakar" by Gung Anom 

(Lot #608)

"Seperti Banteng" by Soni Satria

(Lot #577)

We have selected Brahmbudi Panoedi’s painting entitled Shopping (Lot #629) to adorn the cover of our catalog this time, as we believe that every artist has the potential to create good works of art, whether they are maestros, established artists, emerging artists or newcomers. 

"Shopping" by Brahmbudi Panoedi
(Lot #629)

Through our Artfordable Auctions, we hope to develop a community of art enthusiasts who are able to appreciate and collect art primarily for their aesthetic value. We hope that the artworks we present will be proudly placed on display, bring joy and happiness to those who view them, and play a meaningful role in shaping the homes of those who have successfully bid and purchased them through our auctions. 

In years to come we really hope that our Sidharta Auctioneer - Alam Sutera Artfordable Auction will become a regular event that happens in the final quarter of every year. As the mass media tends to favor news about record-breaking painting sold in auction, there is a stigma that people always pay high prices at art auctions. In fact art auctions are also the best place to find great bargains as many artworks are sold in auction at prices considerably lower than market prices. We believe that art should be attainable and that everyone should have the equal privilege to own art pieces through auctions as the fairest means for acquiring art. Auctions are not only fair but they are often also quite entertaining. 

So, flip through the pages of our catalog and come to visit the viewings at Mall @ Alam Sutera. On auction day, Sunday, 9 December 2018, do plan to have lunch at one of the many restaurants at Flavor Bliss, at Living World, along Jl. Jalur Sutera and at Mall @ Alam Sutera. At 1:30 pm  we hope to see you participate by bidding in person at Mall @ Alam Sutera! The event will be an enjoyable art adventure that hopefully will make your end of year be merrier, more colorful and prosperous.

Amir Sidharta