Sudigdo poses in front of his favorite painting, Srikandi: A Transforming. JP/Agung SamosirThe image of a powerful, independent and fearless woman always comes to mind whenever I hear the word (or term) Srikandi.
Thus including it in the title of an exhibition might raise a few eyebrows, given women are still considered the weaker sex, even second-class citizens in many parts of the world — including in Indonesia.
“Srikandi: A Portrait Of Indonesian Women” is Sudigdo’s seventh solo exhibition, currently on show in Kemang.
Born into a family of painters, Sudigdo started painting as a pastime at the tender age of six. Besides staging solo exhibitions, he has also participated in various exhibitions, including “Four Brothers Paintings”, which was held in 1992 with his siblings and officially opened by the late Basoeki Abdullah, one of Indonesia’s most prominent artists.
Srikandi has always been associated with wayang. In wayang mythology, Srikandi is a female character equal to men. She was raised like a man, and taught the art of war as well as archery. In the Mahabharata epic, Srikandi was eventually appointed as Bharatayuda’s warlord. Srikandi is an inspiration for Indonesian women who strive to be equal to men and despise male chauvinism.
Surrender, by Sudigdo. Courtesy of SudigdoSudigdo says this exhibition, which he has dedicated to his beloved wife and mother, celebrates the incredible spirit of women. Through his works, we can see the Indonesian woman portrayed as tough boxer, a runaway bride and a femme fatale.
While most of his works feature the faces of Indonesian women, characters in three of his paintings resemble Caucasian females. Runaway Bride as well as Srikandi: A Transforming, features an Angelina Jolie look-alike, while the smiling face of a woman in his painting Find A Minang Girl reminds us of Marilyn Monroe.
Srikandi, A Transforming is Sudigdo’s favorite work, featuring two identical women, both of them bearing an uncanny resemblance to Angelina Jolie. One of the women looks like Jolie’s Lara Croft character, while the other is Jolie dressed in a traditional Javanese clothes. In this painting, Sudigdo highlights that Indonesian women are changing personalities as they adapt to western ways of living. The identical twins look feminine yet as tough as old boots. Sudigdo’s works convey the message that toughness is in the spirit, not in the muscles.
Sudigdo also conveys the message that life is a balancing act, especially in one of his works titled Yin Yang, after the Chinese symbol that represents perfect balance. Yin represents the female energy, darkness and weakness, and yang the male energy, light and strength. The yin and yang fit together as two parts of a whole. When it comes to gender, the artist believes that instead of competing with each other in a battle of sexes, men and women should complete each other, just like in the yin yang philosophy.
“Men and women are different; each gender has its own strengths and weaknesses. Equal rights means seeing the opposite gender as a partner, definitely not as a superior or inferior gender.
Ying Yang, by Sudigdo. Courtesy of Sudigdo
“The relationship between men and women should be based on love and respect,” says Sudigdo.
Am
I A Srikandi stands out from other works, as it is the only on
portraying a male figure, a very feminine man, to be precise. The
muscular man wearing a pair of girly pink earrings seems confident and
comfortable with his femininity.
Sudigdo refers to the man as
metrosexual. The painting symbolizes trendy, cosmopolitan men who openly
(and bravely) embrace their feminine side.
Many female guests say Addiction is the most visually attractive
painting at the exhibition. It portrays a woman sitting comfortably
inside a cup of coffee (as if she was in a Jacuzzi). Sudigdo explains
women can be as addictive as coffee.
Some feminists may despise a
painting titled Surrender. Interestingly, I overheard a man say
Surrender was his favorite. While the painting — featuring a woman
grabbing onto a man’s leg tightly — is aesthetically beautiful, the man
explained he liked it because he believes a woman should willingly
surrender to her man unconditionally.
In this painting, Sudigdo
asks whether women have to surrender to power and materialism in order
to live a fulfilling life. For me, this painting depicts a woman’s
insecurities when in a relationship with a man, no matter how strong and
independent she is.
Am I A Srikandi, by Sudigdo. Courtesy of Sudigdo Sudigdo chose Rumah Jawa Gallery to display his Srikandi-themed works. Rumah Jawa (Javanese house) happens to be a beautiful traditional Javanese house adorned with impressive and intricately carved ceilings and a striking old gebyok (a Javanese “wooden wall” with intricate carvings, completes with its door).
“Srikandi: A Portrait of Indonesian Women” will make one reflect on the roles women “play” in our society, from the docile wife to the über-sexy femme fatale or the powerful women in both modern and traditional clothes.
Each painting has a story to tell and the images will give you food for thought long after you left Rumah Jawa Gallery. It may also leave you wondering whether Indonesian women are as powerful as society would have them believe.
Srikandi : A Portrait Of Indonesian Women
A Solo Painting Exhibition by Sudigdo
Until Jan. 21
Rumah Jawa Gallery
Kemang Timur Raya No. 99
Tel: (62 21) 718 0989
To see Sudigdo’s works visit www.sudigdo.com
