Bruised and battered: Through a “digital kick”, Tommy redraws the faces of his battered friends. JP/Carla Bianpoen

Can beauty exist within the realms of brutality? Artists such as Tommy Aditama Putra might argue the a esthetic of violence does exist.

The paintings by the Chinese artist Yang Shiaobin, for example, displayed at the National Gallery in 2007, caused a wave of shudders among art viewers. Shiaobin's oeuvre revealed the dark sides of human nature, the experience of violence, brutality, oppression and aggression, torture and brutality.

The works by Tommy Aditama Putra at the Icon Gallery in Jakarta, could be perceived similarly, but while Shiaobin's are linked to memories of real violence, Tommy's work projects violence into the realm of fantasy and playfulness.

Tommy creates his battered figures digitally. After choosing the face he desires, he then proceeds to digitally inflict violence upon his subjects, creating disturbed, abhorrent images.

He then draws these horrid images onto canvas, and probably enjoys doing so. Part of the joy is that these battered figures are the images of his friends, who he has "kicked" in various parts of their faces.

These are the faces of his artists friends, like Ariadithya Pramuhendra, Willy Himawan, Wiyoga Muhardanto, Tisa Granicia and others. The artist says he likes them, and "kicks" them to make them enduring pieces of art.

What makes this exhibition noteworthy is the medium in which the images are presented - the canvas is charcoal and touched with graffiti. Charcoal drawing are of course nothing new in the history of art, and in the Indonesian context many artists have used the medium in one or more of their works.

Recently, Pramuhendra caused a stir with his superb "Last Supper" exhibition of works made of charcoal on canvas. And what is more, he seems to be continuing to work with charcoal. In the string of shows organised by C-Arts magazine, Pramuhendra featured a self portrait holding a bird - a memory of days long ago.

Pramuhenda's success has certainly made an impact on other artists, as evident in Tommy Aditama Putra's switch to drawing. Remarkably, both drawing exhibitions of these artists were "launched" by curator Rifky Effendy.

To encourage drawing, is certainly in line with current trends in the international art circuit, where quite a lot of recent art events have used conventional mediums like painting and drawing, as well as new media techniques.

Unfortunately, Rifky's curatorial for Tommy Aditama Putra went overboard, desiring to put him on par with great figures in art history, particularly with Anna Leibowitz's photography.

While Tommy Aditama Putra employs digital tools to punch, kick and inflict violence upon his friends, his images have caused a good laugh among his "battered" friends. It will be interesting to see how his works will evolve in the future.

KICK!

An exhibition of drawings

by Tommy Aditama Putra

April 29 - May 29, 2009

at Langgeng Icon Gallery

Kemang Icon

Jl. Kemang Raya I no 1. Jakarta

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