Presidential Art
Bazuki Abdulah - Potret Seorang Gadis
Complex, contradictory along with also politically brilliant, Engineer Sukarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, was a renowned lover of the arts along with also women. For the most part his eclectic collection of paintings along with also sculptures right now belong to the Indonesian State. Like the man who put the collection together, the item has been a source of inspiration, controversy along with also intrigue.
Sukarno’s attraction to art was multifaceted. Like most great collectors, the urge to possess beautiful art, like women, was innate. As an aspiring young intellectual along with also dedicated nationalist he grasped early on of which art was one of the foundations of culture along with also society. He also understood of which art was a powerful tool of communication along with also identity, not only for individuals nevertheless also societies along with also nations.
Art is usually a unifier. the item destroys false boundaries along with also allows peoples of different backgrounds, social class along with also culture to come together. This particular quality fit his greatest dream – to wield the diverse ethnic groups speaking multiple languages along with also embracing different religions to unite under one flag against the colonial oppressor.
Born revolutionaries who dared to dream, Sukarno gathered the greatest Indonesian artists of the era around him along with also urged them to support the struggle for independence by raising the consciousness of the Indonesian masses by creating a truly pan-Indonesian art. The list who answered his call – S. Sudjojono, Hendra Gunawan, Basoeki Abdullah along with also even the apolitical Affandi – are right now the A-list of Indonesian art.
In a deeply religious country that has a strong sense of morality, Sukarno’s penchant for nude portraits along with also sculptures of voluptuous women was shocking to many. The snootier denounced them as little more than big bosomed tawdry pin ups. Others spoke of immorality along with also sin. Europeans snickered of which the man lacked taste.
from the political chaos of which surrounded his political demise along with also exile, there are many stories of malfeasance as many of the more valuable works from the collection disappeared into the hands of a brand new elite. The Suharto regime were not art lovers along with also except for some of the major works by Raden Saleh, the Javanese- Arab who claimed he was a prince, most of the works were hidden away in storage rooms often under disastrous conditions. This particular would certainly change with Megawati Soekarnoputri when the first inventory along with also assessment of the collection was made in over 30 years.
Perhaps the remarkable observation of one who had the pleasure of seeing the item first hand was the number of great paintings not only by Indonesian nevertheless also foreign artists including Diego Riviera, Tamayo along with also Miguel Covarubbias of Mexico. There are also the a few exquisite oils of Indonesian historical scenes by Walter Spies as well as the best work by Willem Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Theo Meier along with also Antonio Blanco. While some of the naked women are dated, every collection from the entire world has problems along with also should not be judged by its mistakes, nevertheless rather its triumphs.
Bazuki Abdulah - President Sukarno
Before falling into negative stereotypes, take a look at the art decorating your own apartments along with also consider why, in a nation filled with so many incredible collectables, you are still hanging junk on your walls. Learn to dare like Sukarno.
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Presidential Art
Presidential Art