Srihadi Sudarsono

Property from the collection of the late Professor Arthur Lim

This work is in good overall condition as viewed, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals areas of restoration at blue pigments, especially along the upper edge, at center and at upper right quadrant. There are also areas of restoration visible under ultraviolet light at yellow pigment along bottom edge and near the white people. Framed.
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 “Srihadi, with his genius as a colorist, has always understood that the expressiveness of color lies mainly in the manipulation of the planes. By employing color to create an impression of “line” without line, rather than using the conventional means of the drawn line, Srihadi is able to express successfully the concept of cosmic infinity… Color is not simply an instrument of representation. It is the soul of Srihadi’s paintings—the essence of their life and emotion.”

Jean Couteau, Srihadi Soedarsono: The Path of the Soul, Lontar, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2003, pg. 111

 

Srihadi Sudarsono is highly celebrated for his passionate use of colors throughout his paintings that transforms the external world into a visual display of emotions and human connections. A Javanese artist whose personal traditions and spiritual values underlined the foundations of his oeuvre, Srihadi’s favoured motifs included Mount Borobudur, Indonesian dancers, and the natural landscape of the archipelago. These were all featured prominently throughout his body of works.

 

As a painter Srihadi redefined modern art in Indonesia. Unlike his peers he found solace in abstract expressionism, and through this art form was the artist able to succinctly express his internal world within the narratives of the paintings. The present piece Procession to the Sea perfectly exemplifies the aesthetics and relationship with colors that defined the artist’s career. As seen in the work, the artist has divided up the tropical seascape and sky as per the expressive use of greens, blues, and yellows, to transcend the physical properties of the environment to become a visceral experience for both the artist and his audience. 

 

Procession to the Sea may be seen as one man’s homage to the world at large. By depicting the actions of these individuals as such, the long line of figures making their way towards the water, Srihadi’s painting is essentially a testimony to the primal connection that human beings have with Mother Nature. It is a relationship built from admiration, awe, and eternal respect.