Kinkin with two of his works at Via Via Café. JP/Cynthia Webb

Kinkin's second solo exhibition "Indonesia Today", opened recently in Via Via Caf*, Yogyakarta. Via Via supports emerging young artists by exhibiting their works, which are seen there by the many foreign tourists who come to this trendy and busy caf* in the heart of the tourist accommodation area.

This show can be seen until Aug. 6 The 35-year-old artist is based in Bali, but is originally from Tasikmalaya, West Java. His real name is Abdul Aziz, but he works under his professional name of Kinkin. When he was very young, Kinkin was naturally gifted as a draughtsman, although there was no-one else in the family with artistic talent or interest. Only when he went to study at Jakarta State University (UNJ) did he at last receive formal training.

He has the rare talent of being able to draw and paint good portraits and his rendering of figures is also excellent.

In this exhibition, his 15 works on paper are all in watercolor, a medium not often used in Indonesia. Most of the works engage with the issue of the Presidential election, and his ironic and perceptive works show that he has given a lot of thought to political issues and the ambitions of the candidates. Kinkin has been interested in politics since he joined in the student protests in Jakarta in 1998.

"I am not a politician and never will be. I am an artist. I can only explain my thoughts on canvas or paper. A painting can explain more than a thousand words," he says.

Looking at his works, it's obvi-ous this latter statement is true. Images of Megawati, Prabowo, SBY, Amien Rais and other political and contemporary figures are painted in wonderfully accurate likenesses and Kinkin has found ways to paint them in a way that leaves little doubt as to their meaning. His observation of the times is often quite accurate.

He portrays Megawati as a robot - with cables and computer parts dangling from her arms and torso, and again, dreaming of herself as president again.

Another drawing shows Megawati, SBY, Kalla and Taufik Kiemas, all smiling together, with a hopeful title Damailah Indonesiaku (Peace be in Indonesia).

A third work shows a lot of different mouths, male and female around a teapot. KinKin said this signifies that a lot of empty words are pouring forth from these people.

You can also see "Gus Dur" pondering his next moves on a chessboard.

There is Syech Puji, a controversial Muslim cleric, on a podium and in one corner, is a young woman in Muslim clothing, with her face concealed behind a curtain.

One work entitled The above hand is more sublime than the under hand shows money passing from hand to hand. Someone on a motorcycle gives money to beggars, and below that image, two businessmen's hands exchange a Rp 50,000 (US$5) note.

Another painting shows the heads of three young women, and then a space, then long legs and feet in high heeled shoes, while below their knees hang scanty panties. The space between is blank but for an egg shaped area which contains a torso in underwear. The faces are recognizable as Sarah Azhari, and her siblings, sinetron stars, Ayu and Rahma

After leaving university Kinkin had a stall at Ancol Art Market for several years. He moved to Bali six years ago because he wanted to live in a more natural and artistic atmosphere. There, he painted the people and the world he saw around him. He also worked as a photographer, and this work is currently his main source of income. He uses his candid photographs for reference in his artwork too.

"I hope I can be a famous watercolor artist some day. Watercolor is my favorite medium. I enjoy the fluidity of it, while working on wet paper. Also, I like it because very few Indonesian artists work in water color. It is the most difficult technique, and I have found a special method which I use, wet on wet, and then for the detail I use a dry painting technique. I can paint with all media, and many different subjects - animals, still life, birds, but people interest me most of all because everyone has a different character, even twins."

Also on exhibition is a series of five works, not of a political theme. These give us a chance to see another side of Kinkin's talent. He has painted a female figure in traditional sarong, in different poses. All of these are graceful, subtle, and very classical in style. His work is reminiscent of the works of Willem Hofker, who made beautiful studies (mainly in pastel), of the people of Bali during the 30s.

Kinkin says that Hofker, is one of his most admired artists, along with Antonio Blanco and Rudolf Bonnet. He has admired their works in the Neka Gallery and the Blanco Museum in Ubud, although he already worked in a similar style himself.

Kinkin prepared two works for the upcoming Yogyakarta Art Fair. One shows President Barack Obama, naked except for a koteka - the penis shield of the West Papuans. This koteka is made of a rolled up American flag. It may turn out to be a controversial work, however it seems to be a reference to the fact that Obama is a man of two worlds, who understands indigenous cultures and comes from a very different heritage than any other US president. In the other painting, he is clad in the traditional garments of the Sultan of Yogyakarta.

Top view the artist's works visit: Http://kinkin.indonesia.fre

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