Jogja Gallery

200 TAHUN RADEN SALEH

Dipublikasikan tanggal July 27, 2007 2:32 AM

Painting Exhibition - 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Raden Saleh

ILLUSIONS OF NATIONALISM
Jogja Gallery, Jalan Pekapalan No. 7, Alun-alun Utara Yogyakarta
18 August - 9 September 2007

Since its launching on 19 September 2006 in Yogyakarta, Jogja Gallery has periodically hold visual arts exhibitions. On the 14th exhibition, the gallery is to present a painting exhibition signalling the two-hundred-year existence of Raden Saleh in the world of art especially in Indonesia visual arts. The gallery invites any artist in Indonesia who is interested in taking a part and responding to the theme above.

Although a polemic appears on the year of birth of Raden Saleh but from the primarily existing data, it is assumed that Raden Saleh was born in 1807, exactly two hundred years ago. It is recorded that he was born in Semarang, Central Java and then emerged to be a legend as the initial painter as well as pioneer in Indonesia visual arts. His life journey is so captivating as an ordinary person, a painter for the Dutch Royal Kingdom by making trips to some countries for years, and becoming a great immortal painter as known until today. His paintings are of the scenery, animal fights, self-portraits of the prominent people in many countries in Europe and Indonesia, and heroism/nationalism of this nation.

His captivating life journey has inspired Indonesian artists. Apart from his extraordinary intelligence, he is respected for being the icon of early Indonesian art influencing and introducing the nation to the world. It can be accepted that Raden Saleh is considered as the pride of the nation until now. He, according to Claire Holt, is "the father" for the modern art movement in Indonesia.

One of the paintings becoming a debate and very elemental is one entitled "Penangkapan Pangeran Diponegoro/The Capture of Prince Diponegoro (1857)". This painting is still being displayed in the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia. It gives immense inspiration to art critics for various reasons. One of the reasons is opposing the attitude and nationalism of Raden Saleh on the colonized Indonesia. Why is the figure of Diponegoro portrayed in the same height as the Dutch men? Another reason is instead of leading to nationalism thematically, it gives a clue on his exceptional expertise dedicated to this painting. Look at the themes of scenery, animals, portraits of the distinguished people, and his self-portrait are depicted in the painting so that it is very acceptable to say a number of sophisticated idea is born from it until today.

In the exhibition, we take in the famous Indonesia's artists to examine the painting entitled"Penangkapan Pangeran Diponegoro" not others. By looking at it, the spirit of nationalism (therefore it is to be held in August which is sacred for Indonesia as a nation), is to be tested and reviewed in the way nationalism leads to. In many subjects, the painting contains not only the visual mystery but re-deliver the mysteries and illusions on different things. The artists have their rights to propose for various illustrations based on this painting.
The exhibition is arranged to show several paintings of Raden Saleh as the collection of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace.

[Mikke Susanto].