Over the years, Pattern has successfully captured Jakarta’s two contrasting souls — modern and traditional, through his works, mostly in lithographs.

His detailed and unique interpretation of Jakarta — showcasing everything from true city scenes to the lives of ordinary people, from becak pedicab drivers to vendors with their gerobak pushcarts or bakul (rattan basket) — has received critical acclaim and sought after by collectors.

“I have taken a break from Jakarta this year, but over the years, the city has been my muse for endless inspiration in terms of how this metropolis has changed and amid its chaos, it continues to thrive and pulsate with life,” Pattern says.

And Bali has provided him with a wealth of new inspiration.

“I am impressed by and have great respect for how the Balinese have been able to maintain their traditional, customary ways, in spite of having been on the tourist map for so many years,” he says.

“Besieged by foreign values, they have managed to continue their ceremonies and a harmonious lifestyle that unique to this Island of the Gods.”

Pattern’s sensitivity about people and the environment sets him apart from other artists.

A self-proclaimed tree lover, he attributes his passion to time spent growing up in British Columbia, Canada, which was once covered in rich forest but fell victim to deforestation, placing the remaining forests constantly under threat. Similar scenarios can be found the world over.

Deforestation and loss of habitat, he says, is a sad legacy of human life on the planet, destroying something vital to one’s own very own existence – the lungs of the earth – for short term profit.

“It befuddles me as to why we humans would rather consume our way into extinction than learn to live in harmony with our planet and its natural resources,” says Pattern, who was an active member of a society promoting environmental conservation in his home country back in 1970s.

In one of his latest creations, Footprint, he displayed his concern over the loss of habitat, showing a recently logged area with twisted snags and broken limbs while in the background, there is a shadow of what was a fully grown forest.

“The destroyed forest is a footprint of what we humans leave behind as we march on to the next site,” he says.

It was with a similar concern that he shifted his attention to Bali.

On his latest trip to the tourist island, Pattern said he was shocked by the traffic and congestion in busy tourist areas, like in Legian, Seminyak and quaint little Ubud.

But out in the countryside, he found that the island’s rich culture, with its age old traditions, was alive and well.

“I am intrigued that after so many years of being bombarded by foreign tourists, the Balinese have sustained their customs,” Pattern says.  

It was during the trip he encountered some beautiful old banyan trees, which represent sacred symbols in many cultures, including that of the Balinese.

“The holy forests in Bali are often intertwined with temples and shrines and all parts of the trees are used in religious ceremonies including the roots, leaves, stems and fruit. What makes the banyan all the more remarkable is that the whole tree comes from one tiny seed,” he says.

“For me, the Banyan is magical and a good example of traditional Balinese reverence for, and harmony with, nature.”

The Footprint and the Banyan Tree are two of his 95 pieces currently on display at the Bali and Beyond exhibition at Galeri Hadiprana in Kemang, South Jakarta.

Through his works, past and present, Pattern said he just wanted to raise concern over the loss of habitat and the manipulation of traditional values, whether it was the destruction of forests or the passage of life that defined a place’s uniqueness.

The women selling jamu herbal drinks, or the vendors, are far less in number compared to the time when Pattern first arrived in Jakarta some 20 years ago. They are losing the battle against the charm of glittering shopping malls in a world enslaved by consumerism.

“Through my work, I hope to not only record and document, but to stimulate dialogue that questions materialism and the aims of a journey that may not be sustainable.”

Ken Pattern’s Bali and Beyond
Runs until Jan. 7, 2012
Galeri Hadiprana
Jl. Kemang Raya 30,
South Jakarta

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