Reflecting on the insignificant

Ade Tanesia, ,  Contributor, ,  Yogyakarta   |  Sat, 12/27/2008 10:55 AM  |  Lifestyle

Routine activities are seldom considered significant, yet artist Surya Wirawan sees the higher value of his day-to-day experiences, giving them new life in his artwork.

In his work, on display at the Kedai Kebun Forum in Yogyakarta until Dec. 31, he musters all his visual ability to present everyday reality.

His inspiration could be largely contributed to the Kasongan neighborhood in which he lives; it is an area that retains its cultural heritage but remains in touch with the city atmosphere.

From his home, Surya finds the extraordinary in the lives of common people.

In a piece called "Mendreng Datang, Ibu Sembunyi" (Mendreng Comes, Housewife Hides), he depicts the reality in his neighborhood, where women often buy things on credit.

The work is a fine portrait of the way typical urban consumerism has infiltrated village life.

"In my kampong, housewives often buy things on credit, most of the time they buy insignificant things. They end up spending their income just to pay their debts.

"When the debts are paid, they buy things on credit again... sometimes they even sacrifice their children's school fees for months," Surya said.

In his other work, "Sejak Pagi Hujan Tak Reda" (From Morning Rain Does Not Stop, 2001), Surya pictures a pedicab driver sitting in a food stall, waiting for the rain to stop.

Through the work, he was not only trying to convey the scene but also invite people to imagine how the rain means the driver's wife and children might end up with nothing to eat.

The artist highlights other daily realities, such as the hardship endured by many people trying to get kerosene and the rampant practice of bribery, including when one wishes to be accepted as a civil servant.

Since the exhibition is presented for people with a Javanese background, Surya uses many visual idioms and words from the culture.

An artwork by Surya Wirawan depicts a celebration of ‘farming day'. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)

Most of his comical works, for instance, use punakawan (clown-servants) to represent the grassroots of Javanese culture.

The Javanese dialogue is very provocative, inviting people to think and find the meaning behind the words.

"Perhaps, my works are quite communicative here but probably not in other places," he said, laughing, referring to the strong sense of place.

Surya might depict what is considered mundane by many, but he said that if he is happy with the smaller things in life he should not force himself to make bigger things, simply to satisfy market demand; he adheres to a "moderate" philosophy on life.

"Since my childhood, my mother was very strict. Going to school she gave us pocket money that was enough only to buy a glass of drink. Never too much. Perhaps, it's what makes me the way I am today," he said.

He keeps his attention focused on various visual techniques. It is not surprising that he is very intensively pursuing printmaking techniques, so that he can produce some fine etching, linocut and wood-engravings.

"Creating printmaking work is very challenging because to accomplish a good result, we often have to repeat our work several times," he said.

He attributes his persistence in, and love for, printmaking to his time with the Taring Padi collective in 1999, where he first learnt the skill.

The proletarian themes that have been his choice so far cannot be separated from the influence of Taring Padi, which always promoted social and political themes.

While with Taring Padi, his visual style was more ferocious and perhaps harder for some to interpret his efforts to support the people.

In the ongoing exhibition, people could see the period through post cards, badges and posters.

Now, although he remains focused on grassroots issues, his presentations of texts and visuals are softer, more sublime and satirical, allowing people to reflect deeper through his works.

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