Tempo Doeloe Indonesian Vintage Auction

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The enthusiasm and interest of many art connoisseurs in collecting Indonesian vintage furniture and decorative items, as emphasized in the success of SIDHartA Auctioneer’s Javanese Antique Furniture and Folk Art Auction in February 2011, has led us to conduct an annual auction in Bali.

Entitled Tempo Doeloe, the auction is meant to take us on a journey back to the “the good old days”, not in historical terms, but to the nostalgic times when natural materials, particularly wood, was crafted with great sensibility and respect, for societies that considered aesthetics as an integral part of life. Of course, we will never be able to replicate those times, but we need to be continuously reminded of the values that were held dearly in the past, and perhaps that is the reason why people collect vintage art pieces.

In this auction we offer a variety of items, ranging from tables and chairs, old books, fine statues, and cabinets and architectural structures, in a variety of different styles. The furniture in the auction range from intricately crafted classical Javanese pieces, to expressive and artistically carved folk Javanese works, pieces with touches of European or Chinese influence, modern pieces dating from the 1950s and 1960s, and even some recent interpretations by a famous Indonesian interior designer.

Among the acceptional pieces in the auction, are some fine court-style Javanese cabinets and chests. There are a number of exceptional Loro Blonyo statues, the male and female figures often placed in traditional Javanese houses as a couple symbolizing unity and harmony, and also a Balinese counterpart.

You can find a number of interesting architectural elements, including the blandar tumpang sari and soko guru structural elements of a Javanese joglo house, the jineman wooden chamber, finely carved gebyok house or room facades, or even simple but elegantly carved wooden columns. There are also some fun miniatures of furniture modeled in the Art Deco style.

Through our Tempo Doeloe auctions, we hope to continuously remind people of the splendor of vintage Indonesian arts and crafts, as well as rejuvenate interest in collecting and develop understanding of the fine and unique pieces from this vast nation.

The most valuable, refine and unique collectible pieces might be purchased by the seasoned connoisseurs. However, we try to provide something for everyone, and so the novice collectors should be able to pick up a few items to start their collection. There shoud also be some things that would appeal to dealers, if some interesting pieces are overlooked by the connoisseurs and collectors. For those of you who do not yet have an interest in purchasing, but have some interest in vintage items, we hope that you know that you are most welcome just to take a look. We hope that our auction will become an exciting event for a community of vintage Indonesian furniture and decorative items, that can be held regularly in Bali.

I hope that you will enjoy the preview and auction. Happy bidding!

Amir Sidharta

Inspirational Mountains and Volcanoes

 

 

Many works from dating from the 1960s to 1980s in this auction have come from the collections of avid art enthusiasts who have meticulously built their collections throughout the years. As a “ring of fire”, it is only natural that volcanoes and mountains would be one of the most favorite subjects of the artists. In this auction there are two particularly monumental paintings of volcanoes by Siauw Tik Kwie, and other painting of a volcano in the background of a seascape by Dullah. There are also smaller mountainous landscapes by Yudhi, Dullah and Kasenda.

 

 

 

 

Ida Bagus Nadera “Spiritual Nature”

 

Ida Bagus Nadera

“Spiritual Nature”
In the world of traditional Balinese painting the name of Ida Bagus
Made Nadera is considered a monumental painter. His works are
expressive, and he depicts themes that are almost never repeated. As a
pupil of Rudolf Bonnet and Walter Spies and a member of the Balinese
Pita Maha association of artists established in 1936, he was
interested in applying the principles of modernism in his work. He was
regarded as being the most advanced and intelligent painters of the
group, and therefore he was  also tasked to become a mentor of the
other painters.

His paintings are represented in the collection of President Sukarno
as well as various important museums in Indonesia, as well as in
Europe. Life and his work is recorded in the book “Ida Bagus Made
Nadera, A Balinese Painter of Pita Maha”, written by Agus Dermawan T
(Agung Rai Museum of Art, Bali, 2008).

Josephine Linggar “Golden Lady”

 

“Golden Lady”, 2001
oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm.
References:
Publication: “The Art of Josephine – Prima Donna”, (Linggar AIA
Gallery & Art Foundation, Jakarta, 2001) p. 81

Josephine Linggar is one of the few Indonesian woman painters who have
interest in the depicting the human side of things, which is supported
by her talent and ability in depicting the human anatomy, human
character, and human expression. Born in Jember, East Java, Josephine
was known as a fashion designer, and this is perhaps why she seems to
have placed a special attention on the depiction of the  figure of the
woman. She also has the sensibility in capturing the suitable postures
and gestures, which convey the story of the painting. In the painting
“Golden Lady” a women awaits someone in front of the temple. Her face
was full of hope, while the frangipani flowers seem to comfort her.

Amrus Natalsya “Siaga Tiga”

 

Amrus Natalsya
“Siaga Tiga”

In his art work “Siaga Tiga (“Alert Level Three”), Amrus Natalsya
depicts a policeman with three dogs prepared to maintain security,
most likely to secure a demonstration that might threaten the
“national security”. The strength of the work is the unique theme of
the painting, which has never been repeated again by the artist. Amrus
is very familiar with of the issue of national security, especially
when he was imprisoned due to his involvement in politics. Born in
Natal, North Sumatra, Amrus is among the strongest of Indonesian
artists. He deliberately chose wood for his paintings because he is
able to best expressive himself through this medium.

Ogeng Heru Supono’s Borobudur

“Reflections Arupadhatu”
Ogeng Heru Supono is painter who explored the iconography of the
Borobudur temple thoroughly. He captured the spirit of the 9th century
reliefs, and depicted them with his own aesthetics and in a new and
modern composition. In the 1980′s this was the characteristic subject
matter of this paintings.  In 1984, he was even considered among the
top Indonesian painters (Kompas, August 12, 1984).

Art as Political Statements: Lekra artists, including Hendra Gunawan

Lekra (Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat) was founded in August 1950 as a
direct response to the socio-nationalist Gelanggang (Arena of
Independent Young Artists) movement established a few years earlier.
Associated with the Indonesian Communist Party, it pushed for artists
and writers to follow the doctrine of socialist realism. After the 30
September Movement (1965), along with the banning of the communist
party, the activities of Lekra ended.
Apart from their political association with the party, artists who
were involved with Lekra created art more as political statements
rather than partisan slogans. Many have depicted historical paintings
that remind us of the struggle of the people during the Indonesian
Revolutionary War (1945-1949). A painting by Tatang Ganar offered in
this auction depicts resting guerillas during the Revolutionary War in
Bandung. It shows a human side of the heroism of the militia. Another
painting depicts a field kitchen during the Revolutionary War.
Although unsigned, the manner in which the figures in the scene are
formed, the use of the medium of oils on paper laid on board, and the
brushstrokes of the artist, clearly show that the painting is a work
by the prominent artist Hendra Gunawan, dating to the period of the
War.

“Unjuk Muka Unjuk Perkara”, by Wayan Jumu

 

“Unjuk Muka Unjuk Perkara”, 2011.
Chinese ink, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 25 cm. (4 panels)

Exhibition: Prada Ribbon Bali Traditional Painting Biennial 2009, Museum Neka,
Ubud, Bali.

Publication:  ”Pita Prada – Golden Creativity” (Agus Dermawan T, Jean
Couteau, Wayan Kun Adnyana), page 78.

Wayan Jumu is a unique Balinese painter. In the beginning, he embraced
traditionalism. Then wanted to become a modern painter, so he attended
the Intermediate School of Fine Arts (SMSR) in Ubud. However, later he
saw that the traditionalism of Bali was actually so alluring, so he
returned to traditional painting. This choice was strengthened when he
befriended famous artist Ketut Budiana.

This painting is one of Jumu’s great achievement, because it is
presented in a form that is reminiscent of a four panel comic strip.
He was praised for this work. “The works by Jumu shows subtlety and
thoroughness. Therefore, although the themes that he rendered tend to
appear creepy, the visualization is beautiful. (“Bali Bravo, Lexicon
of 200 years of traditional Balinese Painters “, Bali Bangkit
Foundation, Jakarta 2007). Jumu traditional painting is also
recognized in the forum of contemporary art, so it appears as a
finalist Jakarta Art Awards, UOB Art Awards, and others. Jumu born in
Ubud, Bali, 1959.

Srihadi Soedarsono’s Enthuasiastic Pendet Dancer

Dancers is one of senior Indonesian painter Srihadi Soedarsono’s
favorite subject matter. He has been painting dancers as early as the
1950s, and painted them in various poses. In some of his paintings, he
depicted the dancers in action, capturing their movement. Sometimes he
also paints scenes during the preparation of the dance, when the
dancers are putting on their costumes or even their make up. On
certain ocsasions the painter seems to have also noticed the attitude
of the dancers waiting patiently for their turn to perform, such as
the dancer in this painting. The Pendet dancer in this work, maintains
the upright posture of her body and the enthusiastic expression of her
face as she walks towards the stage. The orange colors in the
painting’s background, softly complementing the pink, red and white of
the flowers and the figure’s attire, has certainly been purposely
chosen to enhance the positive mood of the painting.

Affandi Family

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Indonesia’s most famous artist, Affandi, was not alone in his world of
art. He is a grand patriarch of a family of artists. Affandi
encouraged his wife Maryati and daughter Kartika to paint, and other
family members have also become artists.

Having lived with Affandi for decades, painting seems to come
naturally for Maryati. During their stay in Europe in the 1970s,
Maryati accompanied Affandi going around to find interesting subjects
to paint. Sometimes, when she considered the subject that Affandi
painted was also of interest to her, she would paint it as well, in
her own unique naive style. While Affandi’s depiction of the Eiffel
Tower is well-known, Maryati’s lesser known version is actually no
less interesting.

Since she was a teenager, Kartika went along with her father, whenever
he allowed her to come along when he was going to paint. She quickly
absorbed her father’s technique, and adopted it as her own. Although
until this day, Kartika Affandi seeems to continue to be under the
shadow of her infamous father, she is actually a painter in her own
right. To Kartika, painting is part of her daily life, and to her,
there is not a day that goes by without painting.
Kartika’s first husband, Sapto Hoedoyo, was also an accomplished
painter who belonged to another prominent family of artists.

The following lots (# 026 to  047) include the works of Affandi,
Maryati Kartika, Kartika Affandi, and Sapto Hoedoyo.
A certificate from Affandi Art Gallery signed by Helfi Dirix,
grand-daughter of Affandi and Maryati, daughter of Kartika and Sapto
Hoedoyo, accompanies the artworks created by the Affandi family
members.