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View all search resultsThe Yogyakarta painter has made a name for himself as a book cover illustrator
Wearing a white T-shirt, illustrator Bambang Nurdiansyah sat by a table covered in books. Filling pages with brush strokes, he was working on the cover illustration for a poetry book that will be published soon.
"I've been busy making book covers lately. There are many lined up, and deadlines are chasing me all the way," he said when The Jakarta Post visited on Nov. 16. Most of the books on the table had covers drawn by Bembeng - as he prefers to be called.
Born and raised in Surabaya, Bembeng’s familiarity with the arts started as a child. “When I was around my kindergarten years, I often took part in drawing competitions and won. Then when I was in high school, I also went to art school. I didn't think that fine art would become a way of life, and that would later [become my livelihood]. Everything happened so naturally,” explained Bembeng.
Inspired by leafs: Yogyakarta artist Bambang Nurdiansyah (Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah) (Personal collection/Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah)His talent was further honed, and his interest in fine arts deepened when he decided to move to Yogyakarta and studied at the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta majoring in fine arts. There, Bembeng was both dazzled and excited because art exhibitions were held every day, and it seemed as if in every inch of the city of Yogyakarta there stood a gallery.
“It was as if I found a new playroom. And you know, it was so much fun,” he said.
Poetry and literacy
Bembeng says that many of his works are inspired by literary works. He grew up around poets and writers. One of his favorites is Wiji Thukul, the poet known for pieces that often spoke out against government misdeeds. Bembeng interprets Wiji’s poems into paintings.
“Basically, I really like poetry. The words make me imagine things beyond boundaries - I always visualize things when reading poetry. Becoming a poet, though, seemed like a dream too far," he said.
It is therefore natural that several poets have asked Bembeng to work on their book covers. One is Wiji Thukul’s eldest daughter, Fitri Nganthi Wani, who had Bembeng provide the illustration for the cover of her 2018 book Kau Sudah Jadi Peluru (You Are Already a Bullet).
Two poets from Maluku, Theoresia “Theo” Rumthe and Weslly Johanes also had Bembeng illustrate the cover for their cowritten book Percakapan Panjang Perihal Pulang Pergi (Conversations About Coming and Going).
Favorite: This portrait painting of Pramoedya Ananta Toer is one of Bembeng's favorite work of his own. (Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah) (Personal collection/Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah)“Since we got to know Bembeng in 2018, Weslly and I have become intrigued by his elegant-looking work. I told Weslly that one day Bembeng had to do the covers for our books. The reason is simple: we both love the sense of mystery that appears in his work. He has the talent to change ordinary things into something majestic and sparkling,” said Theo.
According to Theo, Bembeng is good at building curiosity about what his paintings mean. "It's as if Bembeng's picture is not finished on paper, but is finished in the head of each person who sees it," continued Theo.
Metaphor for Life
One of the most common elements in Bembeng's work is the prevalence of leaves. Either growing on top of someone's head, entangling army boots, or criss-crossed all over the sketch - leaves exist in some form.
Bembeng said that leaves reflected a positive energy toward life and a tendency to keep growing - a metaphor for human existence.
“I want to be inspired by the plants that surround my environment. They can always grow wherever they are: whether in a barren land or in fertile soil. Each plant has a special life energy. I liken humans to soil, while plants are the energy that sustains humans,” elaborated Bembeng.
Green time: The cover of 'Sepotong Dunia Emha', a book by Emha Ainun Najib (Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah) (Personal collection/Courtesy Bambang Nurdiansyah)Though the love for leaves has garnered him the reputation of a “horticultural painter” within the art world, Bembeng does not want his trademark to be a barrier.
“I was challenged by a publisher to create the cover for a book by an author named Ntsana. This was under one condition that I did it without any leaves. I accepted the challenge and did it,” Bembeng said.
“I'm satisfied that I can get out of my comfort zone at work. This means that I can still explore more [styles],” he adds, pointing to how his latest work has shown he is willing to increasingly leave his usual greenery-filled milieu.
Bembeng does not want his work to simply occupy shelves in bookstores or libraries. Next year, he wants to return to the gallery and hold a solo exhibition.
“Of course, that's the hope of every painter. In the near future, after I finish an album cover project and several book covers, I long to prepare a solo exhibition for myself.”
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