Giriloyo finds ways to manage batik industry

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Painter breathes beauty into cardboard

I Wayan Juniartha , The Jakarta Post, Ubud

In the hands of young Japanese painter Keiichi Baba, cardboardfinds its new calling as the medium to capture the artist's longingfor deeper understanding between men, an understanding that, in hisown words, "needs no language or utterance".

Some 20 of Keiichi's works are currently on display in Ubud's NekaArt Museum (NAM), in an exhibit titled "HUMAN DIG: In theIsland of Gods". The exhibition will run through July 3.

"NAM has a long history of cooperation with Japan," NAMfounder Pande Wayan Sutedja Neka said at the exhibit's openingceremony.

"In 1970, my father held an exhibition of Garuda statues inthe Osaka Expo. Ever since then, NAM has been involved in severalcollaborative events with Japanese artists and the Japanesegovernment."

Held in cooperation with the Asia Development Organization, acultural institution which aims to strengthen Indonesia-Japanrelations, the exhibition was officially opened Sunday by EiichiSuzuki, the Japanese consul in Bali.

Several Balinese and overseas artists said they were impressed bythe media Keiichi chose to use. In Bali, cardboard boxes are oftendiscarded without an afterthought.

"This is from a box that television sets or refrigeratorsusually come in, isn't it?" a local painter asked his friend.

His friend nodded, clearly at a loss to understand how such anordinary thing could be transformed into an esthetic object.

The amazement turned into respect when they realized Keiichi didnot treat the cardboard as just a passive base upon which heimposed his compositions of colors and lines. On the contrary, thecardboard became an active tool of his esthetic expression,morphing from medium to an integral part of the overall message.

"It is quite fascinating the way he uses this medium. Thetechniques he employs are unmistakably European with the occasionalinfluence from Japanese art," Peter Dittmar, a prominentpainter, said.

In contrast to his soft-spoken and timid demeanor, Keiichi'screative process was very "savage" and bold. Thecardboard was repeatedly pressed, punched, stabbed, ripped apartand sometimes slashed to achieve the appearance and illusion hewanted to create.

In some works, these "cruel" techniques were used todisguise the medium, to push them into the background and drawattention to the colors and compositions.

In other works, similar techniques were used to exploit the verynature of the cardboard -- their muscular construction and uniformgeometric construction -- to reinforce Keiichi's estheticvisualization.

For instance, in his work "Run Through The Scars",shredded cardboard is juxtaposed on an image of a running man. Theend effect is to enhance the illusion of movement.

Born in 1974 in Tokyo, Keiichi said he adopted the unique mediumand techniques quite naturally.

"I started this way of creation naturally without any concept,but now I feel some meaning in the action," he said.

"Without using classical art techniques, I believe I canappeal to one's soul through my expression."

The need to connect with other people's souls is the singular forcedriving Keiichi's esthetic exploration. His work "UnlimitedDestination" is the best representation of that need.

"I believe the spiritual connection between each human beingis the very thing that defines us," he said.

"This connection, this communication, needs no words, youdon't have to speak, you will realize it instantly when you areconnected to another human being on this deeper level."

On his techniques, particularly the "savage" ones, heexplained destruction and creation were not inextricably linked butquite synonymous.

Sutedja Neka expressed similar sentiments, saying Keiichi'sacceptance of the parallelism between destruction and creation wasa sign the young artist had truly understood the essence ofBalinese Hindu philosophy.

"Balinese Hinduism views life, and everything else for thatmatter, as a never-ending cycle of creation, sustenance anddestruction," he said.

"In fact, all the works displayed here have captured thatphilosophy to varying degrees. Keiichi created these works duringhis stay in Bali. Apparently, this young aspiring artist hasmanaged to comprehend the spirit of the island," Neka said.

He added the exhibit was part of NAM's program to promote youngartists and contemporary arts in the island.

"NAM has a duty to foster the development of arts in Bali.Contemporary art will be the focus of our program," he said.