It's been a big week for the local art scene. National Gallery show "Manifesto" features the work of more than 350 artists, and Ark Gallery on Jl. Senopati is exhibiting paintings by three Yogyakarta art stars: S. Teddy D, Toni Volunteero and Bob "Sick" Yudhita.

"Yes, the opening was packed," Windi Salomo, one of Ark's three owners, said Wednesday afternoon. "They had all their friends here from Yogya and, of course, there are so many artists in town for *Manifesto'."

Teddy, Bob and Tony have been friends since university. Teddy is the more established of the three artists, but Bob has also lately been attracting looks, and for more than his full body suit of tattoos.

"He's in the spotlight. He's been exhibiting his work in Jakarta and Semarang. The Semarang show sold out," Windi said.

Bob's work at Ark includes "street art" on canvas, with titles like Kill Bill and the Uber Alles Fan Club, and chairs that he's curiously named Michael Jackson and Friends I-III.

Bob is funky and Dangerous. His are melodious compositions, painted in oils with a marginally uninspired, yet decidedly competent hand.

Tony is in a sense newer to painting.

"He (Tony) did a lot of performance art. It's only in the last couple of years that he has really taken to painting," Windi said.

Steak Daging Kacang Ijo (Mung Bean Steak), Tony's portrait of the three friends sitting on a bench, arms interlocked, dreadlocks silhouetted against a plane of soupy green, is attention-getting, lingering in the mind long after the initial viewing.

Windi said: "When Jason (Ark owner) first met these guys they told him stories about all the stuff they used to do -- crazy things. They were caught by the military during a demo. You know. Students. And then the idea of producing a book surfaced.

"Putut, a good friend of theirs, who is also from Yogya, wrote the story of the three artists. And Ark gave support in the form of funding the publication of the book."

The book, Menanam Padi di Langit (Planting Rice in the Sky), which was launched at the exhibition opening, is not a catalogue, but more of a biography of the three men.

"The writing is alive and casual, containing lots of slang," Windi said.

The curator of the show, Jim Supangkat, also wrote about the exhibition, commenting on the similarities between the artists. Their work is influenced by street art, which the public tends to think of as subversive art, spray-painted.

"Not many people like this kind of work. We are supporting them (Tony, Teddy, Bob) through this exhibition," Windi said.

Jim did not ask the artists to work to any one theme, letting them call the shots. The result is not as streamlined or "crisp" as previous shows of Jim's at Ark. Perhaps the show does more for the artists than the artists do for the show.

Windi said: "Teddy's work was previously criticized for its *lack of maturity'.

And then everyone speculated when Teddy got married and had a kid that it would get worse. But this is the first exhibition he's done since his daughter was born. And you can see his charcoal drawings are strong."

In one such drawing, a portrait of the artist Ugo Untoro, emotions run free in the charcoal smears, dashes and scrawls, even in the erasures.

"It (the work) is so different for Teddy. As for Bob, for the past two years he has been getting a lot of attention, particularly in the auction houses. But neither collectors nor artists can depend on auctions, because people can play around with the prices," Windi said.

"I have faith in these artists. The title of the book is the same as the title of one of Tony's paintings. Planting rice in the sky is impossible. But I have faith."

She said Ark was hoping to stage a solo show of each of the artists next year.

"Tiga Antagonis" (Three Antagonists)

Bob Sick, S. Teddy D and Toni Volunteero

May 24-June 4

Ark Gallery

Jl. Senopati Raya

South Jakarta

www.arkgalerie.com

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