Program

A variety of exhibition activities took place from mid-October to November 2010 in a number of art venue in Bandung and a gallery in Jakarta. This activity entitled "Sang Ahli Gambar dan Kawan-kawan".

Accompanying the exhibition of sketches and drawings S. Sudjojono, more than 200 Indonesian artists showed their works which responded and interpreted thoughts and figure Sudjojono. The phrase "Sang Ahli Gambar" (The Drawing Master) is a representation of S. Sudjojono, which well known through "Persagi" (Indonesian Drawing Experts Association-Persatuan Ahli-ahli Gambar Indonesia), while "dan Kawan-kawan" (et al) refers to artists who are still active and involved in this exhibition.

The choice of October related to, firstly, October is the month of embedding S. Sudjojono as the Father of New Indonesian Painting. Trisno Sumardjo provides the embedding at 60 years ago. Second, although found in various versions, in October - on the basis of existing archives - is the anniversary of the Persagi establishment written October 23, 1938. The first drawing experts organization or artists in the country marks the birth of a new consciousness also determine the direction of Indonesian art later. Through the arguments of S. Sudjojono, as embodied in his writings, the new painters managed to break the the holy trinity dogma of landscape painting in the colonial period: coconut trees, mountains and rice fields. Third, this activity as well as "commemorating 25 years of  S. Sudjojono death".

S. Sudjojono Role in Indonesia Fine Arts

S. Sudjojono was born in 1913. He is the "Father of the New Indonesian Painting", an art critic and thinker who pioneered the defining “seni” (art) and “seniman” (artist) in the context of Indonesian history. S. Sudjojono is an Indonesian who first coined the term “sanggar” (studio) and “pelukis” (painter). He is also the first person who popularize the term "artist" which now is currently widely used (by S. Sudjojono, creator of the word "seniman" (artist) is Ki Mangunsarkoro – The Fifth Minister of National Education Republic of Indonesia, 1940-1950).

In the 1940s, Sudjojono formulate the proposition "jiwa ketok” or "visible soul" which is very famous. This proposition refers to his definition of "art". "If an artist makes an art stuff, then actually the art core is none other than his own soul which is visible," he said. "Art is soul".

Compared with Affandi or Hendra Gunawan’s works, the themes in S. Sudjojono’s works has their own complexity. And this is what makes it so unique. In addition to flower bouquets series that much he produced, the S. Sudjojono themes stray into social portraiture, self-portrait; daily activities; criticism to the art world; national history, fantasies, variety of traditions; landscape to religious tendency.

In large exhibition in Bandung this time, the presence of Sudjojono figure will be represented by the works of drawings and sketches done during 1950 to 1986. Amounted to approximately one hundred pieces, these works were displayed at Gallery Soemardja, FSRD ITB with the headline "Sang Ahli Gambar". This exhibition includes very rare because most of the sketches and drawings which is a collection of S. Sudjojono Center have never been displayed in public. The book "Sang Ahli Gambar" that is written by Aminudin TH Siregar, will be launched to accompany this exhibition.

On the other art spaces in Bandung and Jakarta, the exhibition "Sang Ahli Gambar dan Kawan-kawan," joined by more than 200 Indonesian artists who are still alive. This immense exhibition will feature paintings, sculpture, photography, pictures, etc., as a form of homage to 'the drawing expert.

This was the first time a large-scale exhibition held in various places in honor of S. Sudjojono. For art spaces involved, this exhibition is the first opportunity to perform together in one big activity. A number of other supporting events such as the monologue, performing arts, seminars and discussions about the S. Sudjojono figure and works will take place in various places throughout the month of October-November 2010.

This event was presented by S. Sudjojono Center and Gallery Canna - Jakarta.

Further information about these activities is available on the site: www.sudjodjono.com