작품 상세

The Legong dance is one of the most mesmeric of the Balinese repertoire with the ting-tong refrain of the gamelan. The grace and poise, even seductive allure, with controlled movements of the eyes, neck, fingers, torsos and hips are a great delight. It is reminiscent of the Sanghyang, and traditionally performed by specially selected and trained pre-pubescent women clad tightly in sarong and chest cloth, with gilded red or blue lines, and with a striking headdress with red tassle blobs to boot. These dancers were coveted for ideal spouses in Bali among the higher hierarchy, and even the passing Caucasian expatriates. Nowadays, older women are even used to dance for tourists. Drawn from the Malat heroic romance folklores, the Legong keraton and Legong Lasem are among the more popular of the some 15 types. A high water mark was set by Ahmad Zakii Anwar in his midcareer survey exhibition Disclosure at Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, in 2008, which encapsulates his world-view in still-lifes, animals, traditional dances and the dark side of urban life. After quitting a lucrative advertising career, he made a huge impact with his Smokers Series in Kuala Lumpur in 1997. He graduated from the Mara Institute of Technology in 1977. His solos abroad included Presence (1999) and Bones and Sinews (2011) in the United States, Kota Sunyi (Indonesia, 2007), Shadowland (Hong Kong, 2001) and Baik Art (South Korea, 2013), apart from his Singapore Tyler Print stint in 2007. His auction record, of HK$427,500 (US$54,000), was set at the Christie’s Hong Kong Nov 2007 auction.