Pertiwimba –
Living in Gallery with Sujana Kenyem

Thursday 9 – 30 September 2021
9AM – 5PM WITA

“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”
– Jimi Hendrix

Rain falls in the early morning, accompanied by the sound of chickens crowing, indifferent to the cold as if celebrating a new day of filling an empty canvas with images. The morning dew flows with the rainfall that wets the grass. It is during these hours the frozen mind feels sublime.

Many years have passed and life takes a slower course than usual. What was once crowded streets have turned derelict. The fast-paced journey of life has slowed down. The desire that was once soaring is now grounded. But once again, through the centuries, the song of the bamboo leaves that grow behind the studio walls, blown by the winds of explorers, flows in the lifeblood of the people of Kutuh Sayan. Passing time without losing hope.

Even the smallest insect makes the universe whole, or the bitter leaves that grow wild (in between bamboo trees) can be medicine. Thus Kenyem tries to calm down, and during this tranquil time he comes up with a new message, pertiwimba (sign or consideration): the best response to such a situation is to listen with your senses, putting unspoken rules on the old wooden table of the studio.

In fact, whatever occurrences have happened is the way it is. It is simple and does not need to be simplified. If it’s complex, it does not need to be more complicated. To quote Pamoedya Ananta Toer, “life is simple, the interpretation is complicated”. The blank canvases are placed in the studio and stacked, along with closed paint containers and brushes lying around. Perhaps Kenyem was looking for a middle ground, allowing freedom to emerge, like the chickens in the morning, freely crowing. Freedom is the spirit of art, instead of anxiety, this refreshing point of view emerges.

Kenyem responded while sitting on the terrace, sipping a cup of warm bitter coffee. He thinks of the people he loves in his head. He listens deeper to the voice of his heart and the message bursts out. The feeling of cold fog enters. Let the rain subside on its own. The people, awakened by the crowing chickens, rushed to weave a new story with hopeful steps and a fiery pen in hand. Kenyem listened intently. Whether trying to be wiser, he is more understanding. I chose to look at him while he is building a tighter connection with his own universe – perhaps also with himself.

Let the fields define its own season. Rearrange the scene and composition, as if the fields were canvases that would be cultivated, hoed, planted, nurtured, loved. That is the pleasure for an artist, in the process of work. What kind of “flower or fruit” will bloom on the canvas? The rest Kenyem leaves to the pulse of the universe. On 24 canvases, Kenyem will be working on the “Living Gallery” project at Komaneka Fine Art Gallery taking place from 9th September 2021.

Only when the pieces are ready will he describe what he heard from that morning, utilizing his ability to absorb with feel, once again with pertiwimba, messages and signs from Pertiwi, the motherland of the universe, like the layers of color in Kenyem’s artwork that he considers simple, which will all be present in this exhibition.

Perhaps there is a prayer on these canvases, so the universe will recover quickly? Or should we reflect on ourselves?

Celebrate the inner voice.

From a friend, to Kenyem.
Pande Putu Setiawan
Ubud, Bali.