DRU
a solo exhibition by Badruzzaman CURATOR Titania Veda
CATALOGUE DESIGN Kotasis Kamar Desain 3x3x3 Yogyakarta, Indonesia kotasis@kotasis.com www.kotasis.com
EDITION 500 copies
COPYRIGHT Š 2009. vivi yip art room Lot 2-3 The Promenade Jalan Warung Buncit Raya 98, Jakarta Selatan, 12510, Indonesia p/f: +62-21-79 00 480 e: vivi@viviyipartroom.com w: www.viviyipartroom.com
PRINTED IN INDONESIA
Foreword I purposely borrowed the title of one of Dru’s paintings as I thought the word sounded casual yet intimate. You don’t say ‘Hi…” to anyone unless you are close or feel close to them. And that feeling of closeness is somehow instant when I met Badruzzaman (nickname: Dru) for the first time. He is a man with limited words, shy but always smiling. Through his paintings, he tells us stories, of his life, his surroundings, his joy, his pas-
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sion and his emotions. You will feel close to his art, as his subjects may awaken in us past or current experiences, or appear as a ‘de ja vu’. As you will notice, the curatorial text for this solo exhibition was written by Titania Veda, a journalist for The Jakarta Globe Daily. In light of her experience working and assisting the directors of Serpentine Gallery in London and Oliver Barker, the head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s London and her passion in art, I invited her to embark on this project. She proved capable of translating Dru’s art into writing, without much art-theory to confuse us in the process of ‘just’ getting into Dru’s head. I proudly present DRU, a solo exhibition by Badruzzaman, curated by Titania Veda, to you all, my dear friends in art. Life without art, is it possible? jakarta, may 11, 2009 vivi yip art room
by Titania Veda
Oversized doll heads of little girls dominate the canvas, encompassed by vertical and horizontal lines, and graphic shapes that seep and melt around them. Whimsical creatures seem to stem from childhood fairytales, peering out of the crowded background, inhabiting the frame. The palette is subdued, with regular sweeps of muted brick reds and matte mus-
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tard greens. Part comical, with strains of anime, Badruzzaman’s creations deconstructs human interactions and personalities, always with the lightest dash of discomfort for the onlooker.
On canvas is where Badru plays with elements to adorn his paintings, such as foliage and snaking lines, creating a more tangible impression of space. Extensions of the artist’s graphic design background is apparent in the cubic shapes, hexagons and squares, and tiled spatial details of his pieces. The 27-year-old Yogyakarta-based artist, with his clean and defined lines, inclines to provide the two-dimensional impression of a sleek graphic novel rather than a work of brushed acrylic upon canvas. But Badru, a native of Lampung, was never predisposed towards comic books or the like. His main influences are the street art that run rampant on the walls of Yogyakarta. “Our attitude, our instinct was just to paint.” The art-
ist rarely displays his works, this being only his third exhibition. Though when he does, he prefers to express himself on a larger scale, saying “It seems such a waste to place my themes on a small canvas.” His paintings veer more towards female characters, whose visage he bases on young women who enter his reality. While his male figures, possessing clown-like features, originate from the playful experimentation of his imagination. But these are not pictures of mirth. There is a sense of melancholy behind the children’s faces and, though resembling a jester in a royal court, Badru’s men holds something sinister behind their smiles. “People have their own characters, I paint them accordingly,” Badru said. Though the characters who appear to menace his central characters and invade the background change with each new canvas, one makes a routine debut - a bile-green rotund shaped critter with sharp, eager little dentures. Badru has no name for his creature, simply calling it is a symbol of egoism. “I feel free to criticize people on canvas,” he said,” without them understanding that I have criticized them.”
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His themes, Badru explains, all stem from personal experiences. Life’s daily fluctuations, minor joys, tediums, aches and interactions all play a part in Badru’s final pieces. He dips into his past and uses the memories to actualize his canvas. “I find more satisfaction with
personal themes of love, friendship and day-to-day life.” Of a painting of a beautiful woman-child with crimson pillow lips and sad bedroom eyes, Badru had drawn on his experience with a former lover. In a larger context, Badru does touch on universal themes, such as the desire to be accepted. A red-headed girl-child with a simple background, one of his earlier works, is Badru’s personal favourite. “She is a person who is lonely at heart, not accepted by the society around her,” Badru explained. He offers hope for his protagonist in the shape of a little bird that flies above her. “I see myself as this newcomer, in a strange place, looking for someone to befriend,” Badru explained.
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Although there remains some paintings that Badru considers too personal to be displayed for the public to scrutinize or enjoy. “There are
pieces which I’d prefer to keep for myself,” Badru said. “It is similar to how some people keep diaries, except mine is on canvas.”
Badru’s pieces can take up to two weeks to complete. Concepts, colours and timing are all swayed by the artist’s moods. “Emotion plays a factor,” Badru said. “If I am feeling emotional, I tend to use warmer colours.” With each piece, Badru begins with a rough sketch on paper before spilling his images onto canvas. “I feel the power [on the canvas] to be more creative. I can add and embellish,” said Badru, who does not feel limited to the original sketches he draws. Badru has simple ambitions - to introduce his art to the public as he utilizes the canvas to release his past experiences and emotions. What he strives is to maintain a style that is unique to him. “It is hard to ac-
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cept comparisons to other artists because I try so hard to create my own style,” said the artist. Badru, who has no formal training in fine arts, continues to develop his art, finding new techniques, adding and playing with dimensions to add to his eccentric tableaux. When he first started painting, his works were plainer, focusing only on the main characters. His backgrounds were rarely garnished with the detailed landscape and cacophony of critters as they are now. “I feel I want to try something new, to change the composition, the layouts,” Badru said of his newer pieces. Badru surrenders to the process of creation, unburdened by style trends or themes that are popular in the art market. What is important is to be as creative as possible,” stated Badru. “As for the art being good or bad, that is up to the public to judge for themselves.” ---
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Be yourself acrylic on canvas 150 x100 cm 2009
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Camoulflage #1 acrylic on canvas 160 x 140 cm 2008
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Camoulflage #2
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acrylic on canvas 160 x 140 cm 2008
Hi... acrylic on canvas 80 x 70 cm 2009
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My Happy New Friends acrylic on canvas 140 x 120 cm 2009
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Only Me and A Bird acrylic on canvas 180 x 160 cm 2009
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Once More
acrylic on canvas 180 x 200 cm 2009
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Saving My Dog acrylic on canvas 140 x 120 cm 2009
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The missing frame #1 acrylic on canvas 80 x 70 cm 2009
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The missing frame #2 acrylic on canvas 180 x 200 cm 2009
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Badruzzaman Born in Lampung, June 15, 1981 Address Sonopakis Lor Rt. 02 Rw. 26 No. 256 Ngestiharjo, Kasihan, Bantul, Yogyakarta Phone 0878 38180747 E-mail blanktieg@yahoo.co.id Education ADVY (Akademi Desain Visi Yogyakarta)
Exhibition 2006 “Bazart”, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 2008 “JAF #01”, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 2008 “Ini baru ini”, viviyip artroom, Jakarta
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THANKS TO Tuhan yang Maha Esa Viviyip artroom Ibu Vivi Ibu Titania veda Keluargaku Kelompok YOUNG BRO Nanang, Piko, Leri, Christo Kumis, Slamet, Jaya Dede Andhika Tony (BLACKBULKY) Ony “Manga” Onie “Kribo” Seluruh rekan-rekan yang sudah mendukung terselengggaranya pameran ini