The Art Of Antonius Kho

The Ganesha Gallery at the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran is to exhibit a solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Antonius Kho from November 23 to December 17, 2004. The artist who was born in Klaten in 1958, for the first time studied art under the guidance of the artist Barli at his studio Ranggagempol in Bandung, West Java in 1977. He also studied “batik” at the institute of Batik and Craft in Yogyakarta in 1978, studied at Academy of Fine Arts in Bandung in 1981, and continued his study of arts in Cologne Germany.

After a long journey for both study and creative activity in some parts of the globe, now the artist has come back to Bali to live as artist at work in his home studio and gallery in Ubud, not far from the Neka Museum of Art. In the gallery, the collections are painting and sculpture. His ability to transfer the technique of batik into painting and mixed media on canvas is then influenced with western world creating the new style of his work. Human shapes with their melancholic faces, animal characters, swarm of fishes in flowing water and home sceneries appear constantly. He had exhibitions in many different cities in Germany. His ability and success in using colour in his batik work and also his acrylic work with max on plywood is admired which many times proved his success in differentiation and harmony in design. Existence and extinction, birth and death are so obvious in his work.
So that even the eyes are immediately caught by these scenes. Also themes such as sunsets, moonlight and sunrises are painted very un naturalistically with such a closeness to each theme and at the same time recall the whole spectrum of nature. The knowledge of eternity and human desire are pained to an affected and formed strength. The works of Antonius Kho are synthesis of east and west. The vibrant earth tones of his native Java finds life and substance in his carefully structured compositions. He seeks to resolve the fluid, graceful, mutable philosophy of Indonesia with solid, reasonable, almost cubist forms. His highly decorative and harmonious compositions capture the soul of Java as they celebrate its mysticism and culture in wayang figures, masks and other folkloric emblems. His paintings embody a peculiar concentration and vitality which enables us to grasp their subject on an intuitive level. The result is pure ornament. A rich feat of decoration that has an almost hypnotic quality. The more we look at these collages of color, the more they reveal.
(Lanus Sumatra).

“One World, One Heart “
by Made Sumadiyasa

Towards the end of 2004, ARMA museum in Pengosekan – Ubud played host for the international conference entitled “Quest For Global Healing”. Agung Rai, founder and director of the ARMA Museum, on the occasion of the “Quest For Global Healing” conference greatly appreciated the opportunity to exhibit the unique collection of paintings entitled “One World, One Heart” by Made Sumadiyasa from December 4, 2004 until January 4, 2005.

Agung Rai believes that with his intelligence, dynamic life force energy and contemplative mind, his paintings reminds us of the precious gift that God gave us all, our hearts. Made’s strength of brush stroke, colour combinations and particular nuances, the essence of Made’s “universal heart shaped” icon are not only about visual enjoyment or physical beauty. In fact, Made’s “Heart Series” painting awaken a deeper spiritual understanding that we too have a heart. A heart that beats within us, montoring our lives, loves, friendships and most important connecting us to the foundation and source of our being.
Marcia Jaffe, Quest For Global Healing co-Producer wrote her own impression and appreciation of Made’s painting. According to her in discovering Made Sumadiyasa is like finding a Balinese Picasso. Made’s genius is everywhere as you walk into his studio of enormous paintings and breath-taking images. The energy, passion and power of his landscapes of the heart can’t be taken lightly. Marcia Jaffe added that she found herself needing to sit and breathe in what he so eloquently describes through his use of color, form and brush stroke. Made touches into a definitive moment in our 21st century intelligence. “To me, his work represents our global future as one humanity. He is a true gift to the world”, said Marcia.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Edgar Mitchell, the Appolo Astronaut and the sixth man to walk on the moon. Edgar Mitchell founded the Institute of Neotic Science in 1974 to expand science to explore consciousness. He is also founder of the Associations of Space Explorers and Author of “The Way of the Explorer & Psychic Exploration”

I Made Sumadiyasa
I Made Sumadiyasa who goes by the name Made, is a young and dynamic Balinese artist whose expressive paintings encompass a universal spirit. His visual language goes beyond form and illusion, creating intense levels of emotion. He focuses on movement and color to bring out the spiritual essence of his subject. From the greatness of the natural world to the influence of culture and technology in environment and humanity. Made continues to discover unlimited sources of inspiration for his artistry. As a Balinese, he believes that the universe and every living thing on this earth were created by God. “Every second of our lives, our Mother Earth provides us with everything we need : energy, love, beauty, joy to live and countless other good things”, Made commented at his recent solo exhibition “One World, One Heart “ at ARMA. Made Sumadiyasa (b.1971), a graduate of the Indonesian Institute of Art (ISI Yogyakarta), was the first Indonesian artist invited to participate in the prestigious ART ASIA, International Fine Art Exhibition Centre, Hongkong 1995.
(Lanus Sumatra).