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Chronicling coming of age through art
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Maybe I Should've Loved You Better, Maybe You Should've Loved Me More by Novan Anggono (Atreyum Moniaga Project/File)
T
he oil paintings caught the eye because of their resemblance to the Marilyn Diptych, the late Andy Warhol’s homage to Marilyn Monroe.
Entitled 20 Potret Sejak Menjadi Umur 20 (20 Portraits Since Turning 20), the inscrutable faces by fledgling artist Nykkhu have an unsettling effect akin to Francis Bacon.
“The paintings [that make up 20 Potret Sejak Menjadi Umur 20] portray my passage to adulthood. One painting, Arguing With Myself,describes the burden of growing up and questioning my life’s direction,” said the Bunda Mulia University visual communications design major.
Nykkhu’s inapposite self portrait showed him facing his own head, as if psychoanalyzing his choices. Other works, like My Father’s Son, examined his strained relations with his father.
“My Father’s Son recalled how my father used to lecture and scold me. I thought my resentment of him would make me different, until I realized that I’m just like him when I do those things to others."
The striking red lines affirmed Nykkhu’s premise, as they inexorably made their mark on the predominantly light blue and white face.
20 Potret Sejak Menjadi Umur 20 is one of the works in “Mixed Feelings 2: The Journey Unwritten”, a joint exhibition by the Atreyu Moniaga Project. Held at That’s Life cafe and gallery in Gunawarman, South Jakarta, the exhibition shows the works of Nykkhu and other up and coming artists from Bunda Mulia University.
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Nykkhu’s fellow artist Liffi Wongso asserted her mark just as strikingly with Veni Vidi Amavi (I Came, I Saw, I Fell in Love), which artistically and metaphorically took a page off Julius Caesar’s adage.
“The imagery of [Veni Vidi Amavi] is based on my dream journals,” said the graphic design major of her surrealist watercolors, which evoked Rene Magritte in a piece showing the difficulty of letting go. “This painting was inspired by a pet cat who sadly died. I tried to reach out to him in a dream, only to find that he disappeared. That’s why I portrayed him as a flower because they are light and can be blown away."
Another painting of a girl reading has a striking message belying its simple form. “The girl is reading a short book she can’t finish. Its similar to the dilemma many people face, namely that they can’t move on.”
Liffi’s fellow artist Hwang Tony’s Percakapan (Conversation) series explored the old and new, as it combined manga and anime techniques with a touch of Dali’s surrealism. While the soaring landscapes might seem to be a cross between Doraemon flying through his neighborhood rooftops and drone photography, they belied more than one can imagine.
“My paintings are a portrayal of my mental landscape. The imagery is based on film scenes, so they also attempt to portray camera angles and lighting,” Tony said of the 10 watercolors. “But most of all, [Percakapan] is an homage to Japanese cartoonist Rukii Naraya. I attempt to respond to their work through distinctive camera angles and lighting, particularly those I see through Japanese movies like Taikon King Creed.”
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The lush, psychedelic plants in Cristoforus “Criwill” Willy’s paintings reflect themes of excess and rebelliousness among the young. “Teenagers are rash and often bite off more than they can chew before acting, making them regret their actions. They also downplayed or underestimated the challenges they face, to the extent that got themselves in over their heads,” he said. “Yet their counterproductive behavior is undeniably seductive, even as it gets them in trouble.”
His pencil, watercolor and ink on paper painting Hengkang (Leaving) backed this point. The figure running from his responsibilities won’t have far to go, as the consequences of his actions, represented by figures coming out of the woodwork, still caught up with him. A similar theme pervaded Criwill’s other work Tanggal (Shedding). While the bird bursting out of its cage aptly described youth trying to make their way into the world, their unresolved issues threatened to pull it back inside.
Last but not least, typographer Novan Anggono used American singer and poet Jewel’s verses to empower him and his viewers. “[Jewel’s] words resonated with me, as I had to overcome my shyness and expand my comfort zone,” he said, referring to her verse, “We should take a risk and go into new territories in order to grow.”
Alluding to the stylized signs like “Home Sweet Home” or other sayings in rural America, the verses are highlighted with shrubs and other plants to make a point. “The typography project came about to visualize her verses and make them more striking, making them a fusion of words and visual art."
Exhibition: Mixed Feelings 2: The Journey Unwritten
Date: Until May 7
Place: That’s Life Coffee, Jl. Gunawarman, No. 24, South Jakarta
Open daily 3 to 11 p.m.
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A media practitioner for over 10 years in both TV and print. Tunggul Wirajuda found a niche in the latter, particularly as a features writer. He often writes about visual or performing arts, but just is at home in writing about automotive, culinary and film, among other things. He can be contacted at twirajuda@gmail.com.
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