Srihadi Sudarsono

Private Collection, Singapore 

Jean Couteau, Srihadi Soedarsono - The Path of the Soul, A Picture Gallery, Lontar Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2003, p. 112 (full page illustration)

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. In the background there is faint and stable craquelure, but this is very stable and only visible under close inspection. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a couple of minor areas restoration at purple pigment of sarong at bottom center. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Celebrated as one of the most important living Indonesian painters hailing from the modern era, Srihadi Sudarsono skillfully created figurative works deeply rooted in local culture and tradition. In the present lot, he depicts a pair of striking Balinese dancers during a moment of rest. Srihadi highlights the harmonious synchrony between these two maidens, who mirror each other in their pose even while away from the spotlight and oblivious to the artist’s scrutiny.

Crowned in flamboyant headdresses, bejeweled with opulent necklaces and garbed in meticulously rendered sarongs, these majestic dancers dominate the picture plane. The negative space behind them serves to highlight their slender, delicate profiles. Their sweeping black hair, running down their poised backs, delineates their swan-like necks and powdered, white faces. Though they are seated, their deportment is far from relaxed. Concentrating on an event occurring beyond the confines of the canvas, their gaze is fixed and vigilant while their body language is alert. A palpable sense of tension pervades the scene as they prepare for their own entrance. Srihadi, in this regard, highlights the discipline and sedulous effort so necessary for their practice. 

Ubiquitously known as a masterful colorist, Srihadi believed in the emotive and visual power of hues. These premeditated tones were chosen as they capture the beauty of their inner spirit. The deep, tangerine gradations employed in the sarongs, backdrop and the platform on which the dancers are seated serve to evoke the dormant energy within these dancers. This warm, fiery palette enhances the sensuality and passion of these damsels, while the highlights of white used to render their countenances and flowers may symbolize their unadulterated beauty and chastity.

So representative of the essence of Balinese mores, the present lot reveals Srihadi’s adoration for his nation. Additionally, it serves as a hallmark of his unrelenting pursuit for spirituality, which he always discovered hidden within the culture and history of Indonesia.