An expression of life through art

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 09/27/2007 3:29 PM | Life

Michele Cempaka, Contributor, Bali

Many people are familiar with the saying ""art imitates life"". In the exhibit Theatre, which is a collection of Anne Van Borselen's paintings and ceramics, the viewer vicariously experiences Borselen's perceptions of everyday life in both Bali and the Netherlands. Her artwork expresses the joy, sadness and mysteries of life that are undeniable to us all.

Her ceramic piece entitled Ogoh Ogoh is whimsical in its representation of the Balinese tradition of making frightening monsters or caricatures of people which they proudly display in a procession the night before Nyepi -- one of the biggest holidays in Bali which happens once a year. The Balinese believe that the Ogoh Ogoh can help to scare away the evil spirits that come to Bali on Nyepi. On this auspicious day all activity ceases in Bali. There are no planes allowed in or out of Bali and all people must remain in their homes for one full day and night without the use of any lights, TVs, computers etc. The reason for this total day of silence is that the Balinese believe that any noise or light will attract the evil spirits. This delightful mask with its twisted mouth and closed eyes gives us insight into the Balinese culture and their traditional beliefs.

Some may look at Borselen's paintings and perceive them as being childlike and undeveloped, but this is not the case. There is purposefulness to her style, which is indicative of a mature artist who knows exactly what she is doing. The painting Three Times a Lady is a perfect example of this. A faceless naked woman stands on the left with her disembodied head to the right which glances at us sideways. In the center the words: ""throw away all flowers"" are written in an arc and just below at the far right, is a strange disquieting half-man, half-beast figure.

Dance Figure I is quite different from the aforementioned piece, as there are sharp lines and definite shapes. The Balinese woman with arms raised high dances with a sureness and grace that is captivating. The bold red rectangular shape behind her accentuates the piece creating a wonderful perspective.

Perhaps one of the most evocative artworks in this exhibition is In a Silent Way, which portrays three people in quiet contemplation. At the center is a Japanese man, while the other people who are positioned at the top and bottom of the painting appear to be European or western. Their images look more like an artist's sketches, rather than a painting, as Borselen uses only soft browns and charcoal grays.

""Life is like theatre. We often put on a performance for people,"" explained Borselen when asked why she chose the title for this exhibition.

Anne van Borselen, who is a celebrated Dutch artist, was born in Surabaya in 1937. She studied at the Royal Academy in The Hague. Her exploration of ceramic art began a few years ago, when she was commissioned to do some ceramic works. At that time she had very little interest in ceramics, but since then she has grown to love the intricacies and skill required to be a ceramic artist.

Many of her ceramic pieces are playful and painted in bright colors with thought-provoking titles. For example, one ceramic statue of a naked woman on the back of a bird reads: ""I'm not Hopping Mad"", with the title I'm Just Hopping Disappointed. The viewer cannot help but smile at both the artwork and the messages written upon it.

How Sweet it is to be loved by you, is another evocative piece of two lovers bound together by barbed wire. Where is the sweetness in that? There is great texture in this artwork and a dimensionality that leaps out at the viewer. The vivid blue behind the lovers' heads is a nice contrast against the brown outline of their bodies.

Each of Borselen's artworks tells a story about life in all its stages. Borselen's keen insight into the Balinese culture and her awareness of the character of people as a whole has clearly been her source of inspiration for this dynamic exhibit.

Theatre
Ann Van Borselen
Jenggala Ceramics
Jimbaran
Sept. 14-Dec. 7
Phone: (0361)703 311.

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