Recently I made my second appearance on Indonesian Television as an international art critic, collector and representative. The first was in Yogya for Indosat. This recent interview was with their sister station in Bali, BaliTV and was filmed in the studio of artist F. Malik. They asked me about local artists and what I was most likely to become involved with, who I felt were the best artists and of which styles I was most fond. I informed their viewing public that I liked all styles of art. Further, I said that while Bali and especially Ubud were known for an abundance of paintings, that there are very few painters. Much of what can be found is in my opinion ‘wall decorations’. They seemed very pleased, as did the Indonesians with whom I have discussed the program. Bali TV said they would like to use me again in the future and promised me a DVD of the program.
Similar art in: Original Fine Art,Updates
Last month JL Galleries donated Kerry Pendergrast’s ‘Amed’ to a charity event in Southern California benefiting the Shea Center / Fran Joswick Riding Center. They work with disabled children providing therapy through the riding of horses. These horses can be very costly with the stables and feed. The night was a complete success with Kerry Pendergrast’s painting raising $1800- for the cause. We at JL Galleries would like to thank all the other donators’ of auctionables and a special thanks to the volunteers that make this wonderful program function.
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Jason Monet has a new gallery! Check out some scenes from Jason’s life in the tropics. This gallery has some traditional Balinese Culture and Ceremony with a touch of the lush countryside. It also shows the unique flare that is brought to any area Jason Monet is in proximity to: the sink/fountain sculpture. Be sure to check back to this new gallery soon because it is growing! The above bicycle is his daughter Louise’s. This particular piece was painted in Australia one year ago. 2007 promises to be a prolific year for Jason Monet. He is nearly finished with his new eco-friendly bamboo house, and this home is surrounded with future Jason paintings. Stay tuned! New Monet Gallery
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Jesse Miller
Glass and Wood
This beautiful flower is a completely new direction for Jesse Miller. It seems logical that after using so many mediums that eventually the canvas would disappear altogether. The wood looks like flower petals hanging off the sky surrounding the bird of paradise blossom. This painting hangs from above not on the wall. Wonderful lines and color. Another Jesse Miller success!
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Sudarso was born in 1914 during the times of Dutch Colonial Rule. Under the Dutch, Indonesian children were denied basic education, not to mention specialized training like traditional art techniques and methods. Priority was only given to aristocrats and intellectuals or civil servants. Generally, children from lower classes would be destined to serve as laborers or delivery boys.
Sudarso was no different. Fortunately, one of his deliveries was milk and eggs to his future teacher Affandi. Sudarso would sit for hours watching Affandi paint.
One day Affandi looked at him slightly irritated and asked, “Why do you like to watch me paint for hours and hours?” Sudarso informed him that he wanted Affandi to instruct him in drawing and painting. Affandi started giving him lessons and half used tubes of paint thus, beginning a lifelong friendship.
Perhaps it was luck that led Sudarso to dedicate his entire life to painting. Still, there was much for him to overcome. At the time the only successful Indonesian painters were those who completely detached themself from being Indonesian. Sudarso chose a very different route and experienced a very hard life, but through art Sudarso was able to float through all realms of Indonesian Society.
The period was very discouraging for aspiring painters, as the door was shut on any Indonesians that might posses undiscovered or creative talent.
The Dutch press along with the Dutch artists living in Indonesia until the Japanese occupation, all belittled and degraded the potential of the indigenous people.
It was impossible for Indonesian painters to get showings because the Dutch could not fathom an Indonesian painter having talent unless he spoke Dutch, dressed Dutch, and was formally educated by a Dutch painter.
When the Germans invaded Holland and the Japanese moved into Indonesia they were astonished to find such brilliant work in painters giving exhibitions for the first time.
As the Indonesian art scene began to flourish he moved to Yogya and began teaching at Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia, which was the most prestigious art school of its day. He was also head of the legendary “Pelukis Rakyat”.
Sudarso choose happy and simple, beautiful young women and girls as his subjects. He found such amazing beauty and intensity in women but was most noted for his rendition of hands and feet. Everything about the hands and feet is realistic down to the smallest details.
Besides fathering the painting revolution, Sudarso and his wife Hj. Asiyah had 8 children. All five of the boys became painters. The youngest of these sons has established himself as a father figure to another generation of Indonesian painters. Gono, is a magnificent abstract painter with a color and texture sense unparalled in all of art. His paintings sell all around the world for thousands of dollars.
Sudarso’s paintings are extremely rare at this point in time. He has been collected around the world and is in many museums. His most notable collector, and close personal friend, is President Soekarno. First President of the Republic of Indonesia.
To truly biography Sudarso, who passed away in 2006, would be a much larger task. He was monumental in the transformation of art into a political tool for Indonesians. The real Sudarso experience is too vast for a single post. Check back for future postings.
Similar art in: Biographies,Original Fine Art
Neal Adams
Mixed Media
Private Collection Dallas, TX
This painting is the latest in a series of flamboyant trees by Neal Adams. The first in the series was sold to the first lady of Indonesia. Absolutely elegant!
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Neal Adams
Mixed Media
Private Collection Orange Country, CA
This beautiful small tree by Neal Adams was the first of three bought by a collector in Orange County, CA. The other two are another tree and the viewers choice award from the JL Galleries 2008 show, a medium sized painting of alang alang. That is the wild grass often used for roofing material.
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Neal Adams
Mixed Media
Private Collection Tustin, CA
The owner of this Neal Adams tree had already bought two good sized paintings of trees one week before buying this autumn tree (my personal favorite thus far by Neal
Padangbai Tree and
Sunrise Lake). She arrived at the 2008 JL Galleries show and within five minutes decided that this nine foot across tree needed to join her Neal Adams collection.
Similar art in: Neal Adams,Original Fine Art
Neal Adams
Mixed Media
Private Collection Red Bluff, CA
Like most collectors of Neal Adams, this was just the first of many to be bought by this particular patron. Can’t say enough about his work.
Similar art in: Neal Adams,Original Fine Art
Neal Adams
Mixed Media
Private Collection Tustin, CA
Padangbai is a beautiful cove on East Bali. This tree was sticking off the edge of a cliff in the blue lagoon and I was fortunate enough to be with Neal when he discovered it. Personally, I wanted to keep this piece for my private collection but the owner was insistent on adding it to her Neal Adams collection. Guess I will have to find another.
Similar art in: Neal Adams,Original Fine Art
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