D

span class="caption" style="width: 468px;">Different eyes: A man passes by paintings of women by Argentinean artist Diego Menendez exhibited at Duta Fine Arts Gallery in Jakarta. Menendez merges his South American roots with tinges of European and Asian artistry in his search for beauty and serenity. JP/Nathasa GanEscaping from the small, crowded streets of Kemang during rush hour, Duta Fine Arts Gallery offers those who fancy paintings time to immerse themselves in the beauty of women as portrayed by Diego Menendez.

With the dimly lit, open-air art gallery adorned with an array of paintings by Menendez that embrace Indonesia, one is transported to somewhere in the depths of Bali.

Just like the diversity of Bali, the artworks of the Argentinean painter merges his South American roots with tinges of European and Asian artistry in his search for beauty and serenity.

Foreigners and some Indonesians started hustling in as early as 30 minutes prior to the official opening of the exhibition on Tuesday to experience Menendez art. Some were seen going around the gallery with the price list already in hand, while others, flaunting beautiful batik cocktail outfits, gathered the courage to hover around the man of the night as he entertained reporters and photographers.

Inspired by Bali and Java, Menendez showcased around 50 paintings in his latest collection yet again in Jakarta. Most of Menendez’ radiant paintings feature sharp-chinned ladies painted in the shades of red and purple whereas a number of his other works feature tropical landscape scenery of rice paddies one can find in the rural parts of the country.

“I like to create space where I can feel good, where I can feel myself,” said Menendez, who refuses to use any models or templates for his paintings. “I like to surprise myself.”

Unlike the current abstract trend of paintings, his portraits of dark-skinned ladies possess a firm outline. Take for example a painting further inside the gallery picturing a dark-skinned female in a sarong, lying down in what seems to be a hut. While keeping it local in picturing how Indonesians are frequently portrayed, Menendez wasn’t always trying to paint locals.

Apparently, Argentinean women resemble Indonesians so much that when Didier Hamel, director of Duta Fine Arts, saw Menendez’ work, he offered that Menendez come and grace Indonesia with his artistry. The soft-spoken artist accepted, and voilà!

Besides having his own exhibition, his work and life journey have been published in a self-titled book, Diego Menendez: An Argentinean Artist in Indonesia, launched on the night of the opening.

Menendez, who has been spending two months on each visit to Indonesia since 1996, has stuck to his paintbrush since the 1980s. “When I was younger I didn’t know whether to be an actor or a singer, but something with art,” he said. “Then I tried painting and it was natural.”

It was the right decision to become a painter for the Argentinean who currently resides near Paris, France. In the midst of the gallery’s soothing ambience, around 100 people came — despite the heat — to observe his artistic contemporary acrylic paintings, which are for sale ranging from a US$30 poster to the largest painting for $12,000.

As much as Menendez indulges in the one-week process of finishing a painting, he feels like a father having to let go of his children when deciding to sell them. “When I first painted them, they were like children. [I wanted to] say don’t touch them,” he said. “But I know they will be vital to some people.”

As Javier Sanz de Urquiza, the Ambassador of Argentina to Indonesia, gave his friendly remarks at the opening of the exhibition, he expressed his pride in his fellow Argentinean and the man’s work and his newly launched book.

“Diego Menendez: An Argentinean Artist in Indonesia”
Until June 22
Duta Fine Arts
Jl. Kemang Utara 55A
Jakarta, Indonesia 12730