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Budi Ubrux: Art imitating life in cowsheds
It’s a miserable dance that never ends – the rich and their wealth against the poor and their weakness.
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Hard work: A BMW car pulled by a pair of cows becomes a highlight of the Raja Kaya visual art exhibition in Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)
T
he yard of the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta cultural center showcases cowsheds housing luxury cars as an icon of present-day riches, which reminds us of the symbolization of Raja Kaya (rich king).
In the past, rich people would place their cattle and cowsheds in front of their yard as a symbol of their social status. The more cattle they had, the more respected they would be. These people were called Raja Kaya in Javanese.
Artist Budi Ubrux plays with this symbolization, painting BMW, Mercedes and VW cars with newspaper motifs that embellish the automobiles’ bodies, like mosaics covering their exteriors and interiors. The Raja Kaya symbol of today’s wealthy people is thus manifested in the unique creations of this artist.
Conversely, cows as the other symbol are placed in the main hall of the cultural center. Visitors enjoy an art installation in the form of a traditional cow market that displays 25 cow sculptures assuming different postures. Like the cars outside, all the cows are also illustrated with newspapers and produce.
Meanwhile on the walls, newspaper painting fashion becomes the signature of dozens of large canvas that present not only cows but also other objects. Budi Ubrux has also repainted the works of Indonesia’s legendary painter S. Sudjojono, which are compiled with his newspaper painting and have their titles changed.
These are the highlights of a solo visual art exhibition by Budi Ubrux, which bears the theme of “Raja Kaya” and will last until May 31. Promoted by fine art collector Agung Tobing, this program was opened by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.
Budi Ubrux, born Budi Haryana in Yogyakarta in 1968, studied at the Indonesian Arts Institute of Yogyakarta for one-and-a-half years after failing in his entrance tests four times. The grand prize winner of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award 2000 has organized solo exhibitions in Indonesia, Europe and Singapore.
The present “Raja Kaya” show affirms his distinctive style. With his realist painting skills, his painting objects or sculptures adorned with newspaper appear to be really draped, making them attractive, artistic and meaningful. Some intriguing headlines are “President Should Take Firm Action” on the cow head and “9 Corruption Convicts” on the cow back.
According to exhibition curator Suwarno Wisetrotomo, Budi Ubrux has created his works by exploiting his ideas and energy. This solo display constitutes an important statement in his artistic journey with regard to how he views the social realities around him in all their dimensions.
The exhibits serve as Budi Ubrux’s visual statement on social realities while the “Raja Kaya” theme represents his critical assertion on the ironies found in the social, political, economic and cultural spheres of the country.
Ironies are clearly depicted in the installations, as shown in a pair of cows dragging a luxury car.
The installation of cows pulling a luxury car was initiated by cultural expert and author Sindhunata. Normally, cows are dragging carts instead of cars. This artistic piece apparently describes commoners, represented by cows, who are pulling rich people, which is symbolized by a luxury car. It is a story about the poor who are exploited by the rich.
“It’s a question of turning reality and fact upside down, a reflection we feel in Budi Ubrux’s cowshed,” Sindhunata said.
Budi Ubrux said his newspaper painting originated in a sketching assignment at Beringharjo Market, Yogyakarta in 1998. He observed female porters chatting while on a break, showing their broad knowledge of whatever subject was being discussed, just like newspaper pages full of reports.
“The idea struck me that I should combine newspapers with the female workers as my sketching objects,” he said, adding that it took nearly two years to prepare for the “Raja Kaya” exhibit.
His newspaper painting ability was developed after working as a poster painter in the New Order Era and residing in Switzerland. Only in 1999 did Budi Ubrux begin his typical newspaper design painting, enabling him to realistically wrap objects in daily reports and later taking him to various local and international exhibitions.
His memories as a herdboy during primary school in Bantul village are now portrayed in his cow paintings and sculptures.
“As a child I was already close to cattle, so I’m all too familiar with the shape of cows. My parents also bought me five cows to raise,” he said.
