I’m glad I didn’t have an easy journey in life’

Ceramic artist F. Widayanto is never in one place for any length of time, dividing his time between his home and studio in the leafy environs of Tapos, Bogor, another studio near Depok and his gallery in Setiabudi, South Jakarta. Given the choice, the 53-year-old  would spend his days with his gaggle of dogs on his two hectares in Bogor, with the  peacefulness of nature serving as his inspiration. He admits that he is a study in contrasts: a Jakarta-born but still thoroughly Javanese man who prides himself on nurturing his friendships yet wants to be alone in the end.

What are your best traits?
I am always on time. That takes commitment.

And worst?
I’m terrible with numbers. I just can’t remember them. The same goes for names of people; I will have met someone, know their face but can’t put a name to them. It’s very embarrassing.

What is the craziest thing you have done?
Two things: Not marrying and earning my living from ceramics. They are two choices that were very heavy. In focusing on ceramics, I have to do everything to survive, and do it in a professional way. At the age of 31, I had to decide: Would I marry or focus on my career? And I chose to do the second. So I rarely meet with my siblings, I can’t get caught up in family things. In that way, I’m not the typical Indonesian.

Preferred clothes?
A sarong and a T-shirt, and sandals. It’s relaxed and tropical. Even the Dutch liked to wear that. I don’t wear a jacket, except the Javanese-style one, to formal occasions. And I always wear my blangkon (Javanese skullcap). I’m still Javanese, and I respect that.

Illustration by Martin Dima

Mouth-watering mainstays?
Sambal (chili paste), the most important food for Indonesians as a taste enhancer. And fried tempeh. It’s Javanese food; I was born in Jakarta, but this is my menu.

What makes you angry?
Betrayal. And hypocrisy. I feel that it’s like we’re all acting here in Indonesia. I get tired of the pretense.

What makes you laugh?
It’s not only the comedic things, but also sadness. Sometimes it’s better to laugh at sad things, because it gives us a release.

What is your worst nightmare?
Being abandoned by my friends. Sometimes I’m very hard on my friends, but that isn’t always very well accepted here.

What makes you cry?
Anything that is touching. It could be a book, poetry, a film or hearing about abuses of human rights. And the latter is of course the worst thing.

What would you do if you had US$1 million to spend in a day?
I would immediately donate it to social organization. I don’t need all that money. I would rather work and be appreciated by people. Other people need that money more than me.

Your dream dinner guests?
Michelangelo and Mahatma Gandhi. Michelangelo, wow; he was so eccentric, a fantastic talent. As for Gandhi, he was a great soul, and wanted to unify people. He sacrificed himself for the general good.

What is next to your bedside table?
My glasses, a pen and paper. It’s so I can write whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I wake up and jot down my dreams.

What do you never leave home without?
My shower kit, and a T-shirt, change of underpants and my agenda. I can’t live without my agenda.

What bores you to tears?
Plane journeys. I like going abroad, it’s the trip that is so boring. And I hate waiting.

Who do you most admire?
Bang Ali (Sadikin, former Jakarta governor). I read his books. He built Jakarta into what it is today, and was brave enough to call people into line. He would tell people to stop cluttering the streets, not to dump their stuff wherever they chose. He was firm and hard; I try to be like him.

What bad habit do you wish you could stop?
Getting angry. I can explode. It’s bad for others, but for me it’s a release. When I have done that then you know the real me.

What time in history would you have liked to live in?
The Stone Age, when humans began to survive, and had to interact with the environment.

Regrets, you’ve had a few, or too few to mention?
When I was small, I had regrets, because I was different. I didn’t like electronics or things like that, but I liked looking at paintings, going to museums. I asked, ‘why am I different?’ It was only when I was in high school that I realized I wasn’t alone and that it was a blessing. I didn’t have the instant, easy journey in life.

How would you like to die?
Alone and peaceful. It would allow me to think and contemplate. Even when I’m sick I don’t want people around me.

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