In Yogyakarta, the members of the SENTAK art community are said to belong to the kelompok penggaris (ruler group).

The members of SENTAK art community aim to shock the art market with their alternative mathematical style. (JP/Claudia Seise)

"Ruler" in this context does not refer to a person with authority over others, but rather the measuring tool used to draw straight lines.

There are two possible translations for SENTAK; one is "pull" or "pull out", the other is "to startle someone". However, it is clear that only the latter interpretation is relevant to their mission -- to shock the art community with work that differs from current pop-art trends.

And with every exhibition they have held and with every piece they have sold, they have achieved their mission over and over again.

SENTAK's members, including Antoni Eka Putra (from West Sumatra), Askanadi (South Sumatra), AT Sitompul (North Sumatra), GM Wiguna Valasara (Bali) and Yon Indra (West Sumatra) certainly did not decide to join up due to common interests as has been the case with other artist groups, including Sanggar Dewata (from Bali), Sakato (Padang) and Bidar Srwijaya (Palembang).

Neither are they concerned with the ideological, political or religious persuasions of their co-members. Indeed, three of the five main religions in Indonesia are represented by members of SENTAIK: Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.

What really connects these artists is their understanding of pure, abstract aesthetics and the composition of lines and field with the sporadic use of color in their pieces.

The creation of illusion and the use of lines to create multi-dimensional space while using different techniques are among the themes of the group's work.

Since the launch of the group's first exhibition at the Affandi Museum in July 2007, their popularity has been steadily rising. It is interesting to note that it is not only one or two of the members that are responsible for the group's success, but rather all SENTAK members are more or less equally successful.

Since their first exhibition, SENTAK has exhibited at the Mon Decor Gallery in Jakarta and at Gallery Semarang.

The group's last exhibition in 2008, after which they will hold exhibitions in Surabaya and Jakarta in 2009, will be "ARTMatika" at Bentara Budaya in Yogyakarta.

The artists of SENTAK were asked why they primarily used abstract lines as communication devices in their art-work.

Yon Indra simply replied, "lines are space". Askanadi said that for him, "abstract lines, fields and colors reflected several themes connected to spirituality and aesthetics", while AT Sitompul said "I create what I see, hear, feel, do and think".

Antoni Eka Putra, on the other hand, utilizes lines and colors to either reduce everything or make it more complex. The fifth member of the group, MG Wiguna Valasara, said that for him "lines have power".

The style of the upcoming exhibition, "ARTMatika" -- a combination of the words art and the Indonesian word for mathematics, combines abstract art with lines to represent the very different natures of art and mathematics.

In the upcoming exhibition, starting July 1st, each SENTAK member will exhibit two pieces of art. The exhibition will last one week and will be open to viewing every day from morning until evening at Bentara Budaya gallery in Yogyakarta.

"ARTMatika"

Bentara Budaya

Jl. Suroto No. 2

Kotabaru, Yoygakarta

www.bentarabudaya.com

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