Jakarta's stories
Jakarta may be far from picture-perfect but it plays
its part, serving as a source of endless inspiration for many. Jakarta’s
stories — from its glittering image as the country’s metropolitan capital to
its acute problems — are being translated into ceramic pieces by artist Marhadi
Widjaja.
In his hands, the ceramic works, currently on display at an exhibition at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta, are transformed into colorful dioramas and reliefstyled works. Each, from tiny fi gures of people to high-rise buildings and cars, are made in great detail, piece by piece.
Through his works, he shines a different light on Jakarta’s popular icons, from Monas (the National Monument) and Tugu Selamat Datang (the Welcome Statue).
He also highlights the city’s notorious problems – traffi c jams and fl ooding – in Bebas Hambatan (Freeway) and Selamatkan dari Banjir (Please save us from floods).
The artist is fully aware of Jakarta’s magnetic charm, as shown through Mengejar Ibukota (Chasing The Capital) and Jakarta Berkembang (Evolving Jakarta).
A migrant himself after settling in Jakarta in 1981, the native of Central Java town of Pekalongan also shares mutual feelings with other newcomers in the capital. In his piece, Rindu Kampung (Missing hometown), he centers on the trains that regularly take newcomers back to their hometowns to be with their families.
Marhadi, who studied electro engineering but fell in love into ceramic art after studying at the studio of seasoned ceramist Keng Sien in Jakarta, stays true to himself — taking his inspiration from the things he sees and experiences each day.
Despite the city’s shortcomings, he says that Jakarta is the city where he lives and where he earns his living, while it continues to inspire his creativity.
“The charm of Jakarta as the country’s capital is felt by many who are then tempted to come and try their luck, just like myself,” he says. “All this time, I see many interesting things, despite the city’s physical changes and its problems.”
His relief-styled works also take on Jakarta as their main theme, capturing different scenes and monuments — from Jakarta’s festivals to the Semanggi fl yover — from a bird’s eye view.
The exhibition’s curator, Ipong Purnama Sidhi, praises the artist for creating dioramas and relief-styled works — not commonly found in ceramic artwork, which mostly takes on the shapes of the Loro Blonyo statues (a Javanese couple in traditional wedding outfi ts) or other abstract pieces.
“The artist’s works are unique since he translates his stories of Jakarta into small ceramic pieces that would require patience, discipline, precision and attention to details in the making,” he says.
“Marhadi has successfully captured Jakarta’s atmosphere today and express the scenes through his creative pieces, transforming a chunk of cheap clay to valuable work of art.”
In his hands, the ceramic works, currently on display at an exhibition at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta, are transformed into colorful dioramas and reliefstyled works. Each, from tiny fi gures of people to high-rise buildings and cars, are made in great detail, piece by piece.
Through his works, he shines a different light on Jakarta’s popular icons, from Monas (the National Monument) and Tugu Selamat Datang (the Welcome Statue).
He also highlights the city’s notorious problems – traffi c jams and fl ooding – in Bebas Hambatan (Freeway) and Selamatkan dari Banjir (Please save us from floods).
The artist is fully aware of Jakarta’s magnetic charm, as shown through Mengejar Ibukota (Chasing The Capital) and Jakarta Berkembang (Evolving Jakarta).
A migrant himself after settling in Jakarta in 1981, the native of Central Java town of Pekalongan also shares mutual feelings with other newcomers in the capital. In his piece, Rindu Kampung (Missing hometown), he centers on the trains that regularly take newcomers back to their hometowns to be with their families.
Marhadi, who studied electro engineering but fell in love into ceramic art after studying at the studio of seasoned ceramist Keng Sien in Jakarta, stays true to himself — taking his inspiration from the things he sees and experiences each day.
Despite the city’s shortcomings, he says that Jakarta is the city where he lives and where he earns his living, while it continues to inspire his creativity.
“The charm of Jakarta as the country’s capital is felt by many who are then tempted to come and try their luck, just like myself,” he says. “All this time, I see many interesting things, despite the city’s physical changes and its problems.”
His relief-styled works also take on Jakarta as their main theme, capturing different scenes and monuments — from Jakarta’s festivals to the Semanggi fl yover — from a bird’s eye view.
The exhibition’s curator, Ipong Purnama Sidhi, praises the artist for creating dioramas and relief-styled works — not commonly found in ceramic artwork, which mostly takes on the shapes of the Loro Blonyo statues (a Javanese couple in traditional wedding outfi ts) or other abstract pieces.
“The artist’s works are unique since he translates his stories of Jakarta into small ceramic pieces that would require patience, discipline, precision and attention to details in the making,” he says.
“Marhadi has successfully captured Jakarta’s atmosphere today and express the scenes through his creative pieces, transforming a chunk of cheap clay to valuable work of art.”
comments:
Very interesting indeed when discussing works of art that not everyone can create his works are made of ceramic and turned into a full-color diorama reliefstyled work. Each of the small fi gures for high-rise buildings and cars, are made with great detail, piece by piece. This is a very creative artist needs to get appreciation from the government to channel the talents and hobbies in order to further build a more beautiful Indonesia.
Very interesting indeed when discussing works of art that not everyone can create his works are made of ceramic and turned into a full-color diorama reliefstyled work. Each of the small fi gures for high-rise buildings and cars, are made with great detail, piece by piece. This is a very creative artist needs to get appreciation from the government to channel the talents and hobbies in order to further build a more beautiful Indonesia.
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