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Master sculpture Edhi Soenarso dies at 83
Fly to heaven: One of Edhi Soenarsoâs works of art, known variously as the Patung Dirgantara (sky sculpture) or the Patung Pancoran (Pancoran sculpture), in South Jakarta
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span class="inline inline-center">Fly to heaven: One of Edhi Soenarso's works of art, known variously as the Patung Dirgantara (sky sculpture) or the Patung Pancoran (Pancoran sculpture), in South Jakarta. The sculpture, weighing 11 tons, was made under the direct order of the first Indonesian president Soekarno and finished at end of 1966, the same year Soekarno lost power. Edhi died at 83 years of age on Jan. 4 and is to have a funeral on Tuesday. (Antara/Andika Wahyu)
Indonesian sculpture maestro Edhi Soenarso passed away at 83 years of age at 11:15 p.m., Jan. 4 in the Yogyakarta International Hospital, leaving as his legacy dozens of monuments built across the country.
The lecturer at the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) was well-known among Indonesian artists through his legendary artwork, such as the Monumen Selamat Datang (welcome monument) in the middle of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
'Obituary: Indonesian sculpture artist Empu Ageng [great artist] Edhi Soenarso has returned to the arms of Allah,' said ISI Yogyakarta through its official Facebook account, adding that a funeral would be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Nganti village, Sleman, Yogyakarta.
He will be laid to rest next to the grave of his late wife, Sumiyati. Born in Salatiga, Central Java in 1923, Edhi leaves behind four children and 11 grandchildren
Edhi dedicated his life to being a freedom fighter against the Dutch occupation when he was seven years old. His bravery was noted among Indonesian fighters when he ran and threw a grenade at the Netherlands' paramilitary force, the Dutch Indies Civil Administration (NICA).
However, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL), managed to catch him during his participation in the guerilla war to defend the nation's 1945 independence declaration.
He was sent to prison in Bandung from 1946 to 1949, where he learned and shaped his skills with sculpture. Edhi was only a 14-year-old boy when he became a prisoner of war and got tortured by the Dutch army.
Fate changes
After the Dutch government officially acknowledged Indonesian independence in 1949, Edhi was released from prison and rushed to be with his commander and troops in the V Siliwangi regiment.
But during his journey he met an artist named Hendra Gunawan. The meeting changed his life as Hendra successfully persuaded him to lay down his weapons and become an artist.
He formally learned sculpture in the Indonesia Art Academy (ASRI) Yogyakarta ' the first Indonesian college of art that was founded in December 1949 and later merged into ISI in 1984.
Edhi then developed his skill by studying more about sculpture in Kelabhawa Visva Bharati University Santiniketan in India in 1957, two years after his graduation from ASRI.
He completed dozens of monumental works of art, such as the Monumen Dirgantara (sky monument), a sculpture of a man in a sky-grasping position at the Pancoran intersection in Jakarta, and the Monumen Pancasila Sakti (powerful eagle monument) in Menteng commemorating the seven generals who were killed in the lead-up to the 1965 communist purge.
He also created dioramas in the Monumen Nasional (Monas) museum in Jakarta and in other major museums in other areas of Jakarta, as well as in Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
Through his artwork, his legacy will always be remembered.
So long, Empu Edhi. (ags)
