NAM exhibits works of Keiichi Baba

I Wayan Juniartha , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Thu, 06/26/2008 10:34 AM | Surfing Bali

Ubud's Neka Art Museum (NAM) will display a series of works created by Japanese artist Keiichi Baba in an exhibition titled "Human Dig At The Island of God", which will run from June 29 until July 3.

"It is part of our program to provide NAM with a nuance of contemporary arts," NAM's founder Sutedja Neka said.

NAM has been known as one of the finest repositories of the island's traditional and classical masterpieces. It also houses a precious collection of more than 400 beautiful kris.

Noise of God No. 2 (60x90 centimeters, mixed media on cardboard, 2008) by Japanese artist Keiichi Baba. (JP/I Wayan Juniartha)

"The Keiichi Baba exhibition will show that contemporary art is not the hostile rival of the traditional, classical arts. Instead, it is the continuation of the same spirit of esthetic exploration ... the fruits of the artists' efforts to comprehend their role as human beings as well as to understand life that unfurled around them," Neka added.

Born in 1974 in Tokyo, Keiichi Baba is a multi-talented artist who has created various works -- from store designs and tile mosaics to paintings. He has actively participated in private exhibitions in Japan since 1998. His last exhibition, "Human Dig", was at Ginza's Galerie SOL in 2007.

"The exhibition at NAM features Baba's interpretation of the current situation and phenomenon in Bali. It is loosely based on the Ginza exhibit, but with a strong Balinese flavor," Neka said.

Baba used cardboards as his primary medium for the pieces on display. His act of painting is, in his words, a "simultaneous effort of creation and destruction".

"I paint repeatedly on the cardboard, cut and crush it to create the works. I started this way of creation naturally without concept, but now I feel some meaning in this action," Baba said.

"Destruction and creation are not inextricably linked but actually quite synonymous. I follow my instinct to receive universal message from the nature and express it in my works ... I believe I can appeal to one's soul through my expression," he added.

The exhibit has been co-organized by NAM and the Asia Development Organization (ADO), a cultural institution that works to strengthen Indonesia-Japan cultural ties.

"Hopefully, this exhibit will intensify the cultural communication between the Balinese and the Japanese," ADO's Hiroshi Takatani said.

The exhibit's opening ceremony will take place Sunday afternoon at NAM.

"This is an admission-free exhibit, so we hope art enthusiasts will flock to the opening ceremony," Neka said.

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |