AFFANDI | Balinese Ceremony

Private Collection, USA

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There are two lines of media accretion at the top middle edge of the work that is likely inherent to the work itself. There is a spot of paint loss at the yellow stroke near the right edge of the work. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals restoration along the edges of the work and at the background. 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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Heralded as one of the most prominent expressionist painters in Southeast Asia, Affandi was an artist whose unique opus can be characterized by his innovative modernist style, as well as his vibrant color palette. At a time when romanticized illustrations of Indonesia were popularized by mooi indie and pita-maha artists, Affandi in turn dedicated his artistry to the pursuit of depicting the quotidian everyday of Indonesian culture, people and its landscapes, which subsequently propelled a new wave of post-colonial social influences to the evolving artistic identity of Indonesia. In establishing the organization Lembaga Pelukis Rakyat (The People’s Painters Association), Affandi led his fellow Indonesian artists in forgoing the ideals of photorealism and formal composition, and sought to embrace emotional authenticity in his portrayals of Bali’s energetic and richly cultured dynamism.

Balinese Ceremony is a highly spirited masterpiece which serves as a seminal celebration of the vivacious cultural identity of Indonesia. As a naturalist at heart, Affandi honestly showcases the cultural traditions of the island, revitalizing the verisimilitude of Balinese life and rituals. The present lot captures perfectly the boundless energy that can be found amidst the colorful processions of Balinese ceremonial festivals, which are performed to mark the beginning and end of every celebration. Affandi imbues the canvas with an undeniable spiritual significance and exuberance, as the performed rituals act to balance the energies between sacred and secular entities, and are believed to maintain a living world of eternal harmony. It is through this animated piece that Affandi conducts an emotive exercise on expressionism, as his luminous use of color and form fabricates an evocative account of traditional Balinese customs. The candid vigor of Affandi’s brushwork delineates the central phenomenon of the procession with an intensity like no other, as he seems to encapsulate the lively chaos of atmosphere through the thick strokes of impasto that traverse the canvas. The highly organic and unconstrained dabs of paint showcase Affandi’s inimitable process of squeezing paint directly onto the canvas and smearing it with his fingers and palms, while the gestural mark of each spontaneous stroke blends together to radiate sensations of verve and energy, accentuating the pulsating spirit of this transcendent parade.

Dominating the canvas is an indiscernible creature of hybridity, as Affandi marries the perimeters of realism with the notions of expressionism and constructs an animal that changes and morphs according to the perspective of the viewer. Festooned with shimmering strokes of color, the mystical creature appears to absorb the glow of the natural light, and consumes the pictorial space in its arresting radiance. Affandi takes care to scatter the creature with jade green scales and crimson patterns, as thick layers of impasto, assembled on top of each other through his acute sense of dimension and depth, mirror the lush foliage of the natural landscapes frequently associated with Bali.

At the background stands a pagoda-like structure, which provides a religious accent to the painting; Affandi adorns the golden edifice with decorative details, which subsequently echoes the alluring beauty of Bali’s cultural rituals and spirituality. Like freely flowing ribbons in the wind, the rhythmic swirls of paint curl and coil to elucidate movement and stimulate flow to the canvas, as Affandi saturates the landscape with his innate emotions, and expresses beautifully his never-ending affection for the daily traditions of Indonesian culture. The intense brilliance of the ruby reds, cerulean blues and emerald greens of Affandi’s color palette reflect his unique visual language, as he works to transform the raw and passionate energies of this Balinese occasion into something tangible through an atomic burst of colors. This prismatic scene brings viewers into the heart of its electrifying atmosphere, as we are invited to experience the customary habits of Bali through Affandi’s every stroke of color and rhythm. 

This captivating masterpiece is a seminal work from Affandi’s opus, and encompasses many of the quintessential aspects of Bali that he sought to depict during the zenith of his artistic career. A grand and evocative piece, Balinese Ceremony is an electrifying illustration of the rich traditions and rituals of Balinese cultures, as Affandi’s figurative brushstrokes dance across the canvas, which ultimately gives way to a spectacular vignette of the cavalcades of Balinese life.