'Emotions' reflect children's issues

Wasti Atmodjo ,  Contributor ,  Sanur   |  Thu, 10/23/2008 10:59 AM  |  Surfing Bali

An installation by I Made Supena is set up at the Griya Santrian Gallery in Sanur, in preparation for its Dec. 15 opening. (JP/Wasti Atmodjo)

Hundreds of wooden statues in the forms of human heads were scattered on the Griya Santrian Gallery in Sanur.

Their heartbreaking "faces" were gloomy and sad. Some were depicted as crying boys. As the backdrop, eight giant canvases were hanged revealing pictures with the same themes -- depressed-looking children.

Created by young promising artist I Made Supena, the installations and paintings were displayed to increase people's awareness on various social problems, especially those affecting minors.

"Many Balinese children drop out of school or live in very poor conditions, regardless of the economic progress claimed by adults," Supena said.

According to data from the Bali Education office, around 1,600 students leave school annually due to poverty.

"This is contradictory to the glamorous image of this tourist island," Supena added.

A number of Balinese children and teenagers have committed suicide because of economic reasons: Many of them were victims of sexual abuse.

"Some of these were pedophilia cases involving both local and foreign adults pretending to be the guardians of the children. I feel extremely sad and angry knowing that these irresponsible adults robbed the innocent lives of these unfortunate children," Supena said.

The artist has expressed deep emotion through his art work.

"Every day, we read news about violence against children, domestic violence, juvenile crimes that involve our young people," he said, adding the government and the community must take stern action to solve this lingering problem.

Born to the famous artistic family of I Ketut Murja from Singapadu, Gianyar, Supena followed in his father's footsteps by tackling themes relating to social issues involving children.

The father of three said he was concerned about the condition of poor children on the so-called rich island of Bali.

"We have to protect our young generation from things that will disturb their physical and emotional wellbeing," he said.

Curated by German art observer Thomas U Freitag, Supena's exhibition, which will be opened on Dec. 15, incorporates 196 statues and eight paintings.

"The works are very expressive. They mirror the artist's anger and sadness," said Freitag, who has been living in Bali for several years.

He said he observed the development of Supena's work over the last few years and added that his latest piece was the "peak period in his artistic endeavors".

Supena, Freitag said, was able to express his feelings and turn them into beautiful works of art.

"He is so sensitive toward social problems and he is successful in translating it into his work."

Supena's said his work was intended as a telling reminder of the serious problems local children are now facing.

"The works invite people to think, to contemplate and to seek solutions to the problems in order to make our children's lives better and happier," he said.

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