“I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full” - Arthur Ashe -
F o r me , w o r k o f a r t i s a presentati o n fo rm to co mmuni cate the i deas to o ther p e o p l e s a e s t h e t i c a l l y . A v al ue o f art i s yet perfectl y g ai n i f there’ s no i nteracti on b e t w e e n a u d i e n c e s a n d an artwo rk. I bel i ev e the v al ue o f an artwo rk w ill e l e v a t e i f t h e r e ’ s c o n t a c t between the o ri g i n arti st i dea i n hi s wo rk ag ai nst the audience perceptions. Me a n w h i l e , t h e b l i s s f u l n ess o f creati ng wo rk o f art i s o nl y bel o ng to the rel ated a r t i s t . P a s s i o n s , E mo t i o ns, Intui ti o n adv entures, wi despread o f i mag i nati on c l u s t e r s u p o n a c r e a t i ve pro cess when an artwo rk i s o ng o i ng … i t’ s happen p r i v a t e l y , a n d i n a d e e p i nti macy o f an arti st mi nd and so ul . I l o v e t o p a i n t , d r a w , and v i sual i ze whatev er co mes to my heart and mi nd . S o m e t i m e s , I f e e l t h e r a ng e i s to o wi de. T o o many wi shes to take up ev erythi ng. E i t h e r i t ’ s c a me f r o m w i thi n me o r o utsi de.
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S o t h a t ’ s w h y I h a v e s o m any v ari o us themati c and styl es. T radi ti o nal , di g i tal , G r a p h i c d e s i g n , i l l u s t r a t i on, fi ne art, etc. I tho ug ht, i t may ev en spo radi c, i r r e g u l a r , a n d c h a o s . B u t I l i v e i t. I l i v e thi s transi ti o n phase as a “Passag es” o f my art and life. T h i s t i me , c o i n c i d e w i t h t he cel ebrati o n o ur bel o v ed mo ther earth Indo nesi a i n d e p e n d e n c e d a y , f i n a l l y I make up my mi nd to assi g n a theme fo r thi s e x h i b i t i o n . I h o p e t h i s c a n refl ected my i nternal i ssues and i t’ s rel ati o n to the s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n aro und us. M o reo v er, after we pass the mo st m e s me r i z i n g e l e c t i o n a l o n g o ur po l i ti cal hi sto ry. A ren’ t we are i n the mi ddl e o f a t r a n s i t i o n ? a p r o c e s s t o m o v i ng tro ug h passi ng a hard and co nfusi ng si tuati o ns. I h o p e w e t a ke i t a s e x a mi nati o ns. I ho pe wi th thi s “Passag es” , we wi l l trai ned b e c o m e a b e t t e r h u ma n s ki nd.
Denpasar, A ug ust 1 1 th, 2 0 1 4 A ri f Bahti ar
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PLATES 1
“Lady Of The Sky” | Oil on Canvas | 75 cm x 125 cm 2
“Evanescent II” Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 90 cm X 120 cm
“The Present” Oil, Acrylic, Aerosol on Canvas 70 cm X 90 cm
“Latitude” | Oil on Canvas | 75 cm x 125 cm 5
“Blue Mask” Oil on Canvas 70 cm X 90 cm
“Juwita” Oil on Canvas 70 cm X 90 cm
“A Family” | Watercolors and Ink On Paper | 24.3 cm x 43.5 cm
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“Evanescent II” Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 90 cm X 120 cm
“Mindscape” Watercolors and Ink On Paper 29 cm x 42 cm
*This artwork is a reinterpretation of Auguste Rodin's “The Thinker”
“A Prince” Watercolors and Ink On Paper 42 cm x 30 cm
“Seven Protocols” | Watercolors and Ink On Paper | 24.3 cm x 43.5
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“Nisbi I” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm
“Nisbi II” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm
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“Imperium” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm
“Corrupted Codex” Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 140 cm x 140 cm
Biography
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Arif Bahtiar was born in Ciamis, West Java. In July 2000 he moved to Bandung and studied at Padjadjaran University graduating from a Bachelor of Traditional Sudanese Literature in 2007. He active to attend art events in several universities in Bandung during his college activities. He have been exploring art experiences and creativity with many media; Body Painting, Air Brush, Graffiti and Graphic Design, Illustration, Sculpture and Paintings. In late of 2007 he decided to moved to Bali. His investigation of ideas is pursued through his work of art. He do a lot of experiments with medium and techniques, the harmonious graduated form, light and colors that could be achieved in his works. He able to evolve his art works. He create, reconstructs, reform and deconstruct the ideas through his own perspective of aesthetics.
S olo E x h ib it io n: 2014
- “The Passages” Bledog Art Space, Ubud, Bali
S e le c te d Gro up Exhibitio n: 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2011 2011 2009 2008 2005 16
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“Kuta Art Chromatic” Kuta, Bali. “United Overseas Bank (UOB) Painting of The Year Indonesia” UOB Plaza, Jakarta. “Bali ACT” Urban Sketchers Bali 1st Anniversary, Group Exhibition. Ubud, Bali. “UWRF: Art Makers” Group Exposition. Ubud, Bali. “Architect Under Big 3” Group Exposition. Popo Danes Gallery /Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar, Bali. “For Dog’s Sake” Group exhibition. NAKA contemporary Art Gallery, Seminyak, Bali. “iDRAW” A Group Drawing Exhibition, JP’s (alternative space) Seminyak, Bali - Indonesia. “The Gradation” Group Exhibition, Terasseni Gallery, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia “Art Action” Group Exhibition, Kuta Galeria, Bali, Indonesia. “DJAMU TJAP IKIP” Group Exhibition, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
Aw a r d s & R eco g nitio ns : 2013 - Finalist “United Overseas Bank (UOB) Painting of The Year Indonesia” UOB Plaza, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2008 - Finalist “Body Painting Competition”, HARD ROCK Cafe, Bali, Indonesia. 2007 - 2nd Winner Awarded of “MURAL FOR MY CAMPUS” Competition Padjadjaran University, Bandung, 2005 - Winner 0f “ART AGAINST AIDS” Mural Competition, Bandung, West Java.
P r e s s & P u blicatio ns : 2013 -
Selected Work to published in International Annual Book “IMAGINE THE IMAGINATION: New Vision of Surrealism” Published in Poznan, Poland. 2013 - Selected Work to published in “LEXICON FANTASTIC ARTISTS” book (German Edition), Published in Vienna, Austria. 2007 - 2014 - Published in various local, and international media.
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Thanks to:
www.lattitude-zero.com
Thank you to all my friends, Pak Hartono and Bledog artspace staffs who has been supports this event as well. Special thanks to my lovely wife Sammie Bahtiar. Thank you for making life such a splendid adventures. w w w . a ri f bahti ar.com
This catalogue was published as a supplement to the exhibition “The Passages” by Arif Bahtiar at Bledog Artspace, Ubud, Bali, August 17 - 9 September 2014 Published by Bledog Artspace 2014 Jl. Raya Goa Gajah, Teges Kangin, Peliatan-Ubud T. +62 361 978737 Copyright Arif bahtiar 2014 All rights reserved. No parts of this publication maybe reproduce or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photography, r ecording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher and related artist.
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“The Passages” is organized by cooperation Arif Bahtiar and Bledog Artspace.