작품 상세

Who is the gentleman in the dark cream jacket featured by the expert hand of one of Indonesia's greatest portraitists, S. Sudjojono the pioneering modernist? A check with a few of Indonesia's cognoscenti yielded many suspects but no conclusive answer. What is obvious is that the personage is somebody, from the way he dressed. And he hailed from Bali or has some Balinese connections, as can be gleaned from the left panel, with a six-tiered pura (temples) and a procession of traditional Balinese ceremonial parasols. The images on the top right side are less decipherable. The man sported an expression that can best be described as a Hugh Grant chagrin, albeit looking a bit downcast. What is prominent is his protruding right ear. Sindudarsono Sudjojono, dubbed the Father of Indonesian Modern Art, is a giant in Indonesian art, who led a rearguard action against the romanticised Mooi Indie (Beautiful Indies) repertoire then prevalent. His works intimated the stark realism of the people and cultures, the land and the growing industrial development. He is noted for works such as The Battle Between Sultan Agung And JP Coen (1973) in the collection of the Jakarta History Museum. Another notable work, Our Soldiers Led Under Prince Diponegora (1929) sold for a record US$7.5m at Sotheby's Hong Kong. Sudjojono co-founded Persagi (Association of Indonesia Drawing Specialists) with Agus Djaja and the Seniman Indonesia Muda (Young Indonesia Artists' Collective). His legacy is preserved by the S. Sudjojono Centre in Tangerang, Banten. He was even a one-term Member of Parliament.