Page 27 - 57 X 76 - Hanafi • Goenawan Mohamad
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I do not think that there are certain artistic In his introduction to the Hanafi’s solo exhibition
conventions that Hanafi and GM want to subvert id, Jim Supangkat explains Hanafi’s process of
through 57 x 76. But even if this collaboration intends painting as an effort to solve (visual) problems on a
to subvert something, the impact is at least felt in the canvas. He likens the framework to a solitary chess
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work process of each artist. By opening up to other game: Hanafi works by raising problems or conflicts,
party’s responses and interventions, both Hanafi then trying to find solutions—but the solutions
and GM are actually dismantling the boundaries of are temporary because they cause new problems
personal ideas—which are solitary, subjective and that again must be solved. And so on, until the
particular. The pattern of creation becomes non-linear multifaceted process is confronted with a ‘deadlock’,
and, ultimately, aleatoric, because each must start or ‘checkmate’: a point where the work of painting is
working from an unexpected initial reference which then considered ‘finished’.
is not fully understood or mastered. There are also Supangkat’s analogy is very interesting if applied
times when they are confused about how to respond to the reading of 57 x 76. As I mentioned above, the
because the picture actually appears finished. The element of unpredictability has naturally made this
pattern of work in 57 x 76 creates subversion, if collaboration project full of play. The difference is that
not enrichment, on the habits of each. The most the problems that Hanafi usually creates for himself
interesting stage is when they see papers and on his paper or canvas are now born through the
canvases that have been considered ‘finished’: Hanafi hands of GM. Interestingly for Hanafi, GM is not only
and GM must accept surrender to surprise, where the an ‘opponent’ who triggers a problem to solve, but
ideas and forms they proposed in the initial stages also becomes a partner who helps him solve other
must undergo a shift, or an expansion, to major problems.
changes.
In ‘solving a problem’, both Hanafi and GM maximize
Play and intersubjectivity the potential of artistic creation as an immersive
If Hanafi considers that no paper or canvas of his has play that avoids the certainty of final goals. It must
ever ‘failed’, how then can we measure the success of 14 Jim Supangkat, Catur Soliter Hanafi, catalog for Hanafi solo
57 x 76 as an artistic collaborative project? exhibition, id, Jakarta, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, 2006.
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