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拍品专文
Indonesia embarked on its road to freedom from the beginning of the Japanese Occupation during the Second World War As the occupation spread the Japanese powers encouraged the growing nationalist sentiment of the people. Although this was done on the account of a greater political advantage for the invading Japanese powers against the preexisting colonial masters, this support led to the creation of new Indonesian institutions and elevated the position of local political leaders such as Sukarno. Through these local organisations, artists such as Affandi and Hendra Gunawan took part in Indonesia’s struggle for independence, joining the scores of native Indonesians who participated as guerilla fighters in the fight for freedom.
Hendra Gunawan was twenty eight years old when the Second World War broke out. Despite his active participation in the struggle for independence, his passion for art never wavered. Famed for his depictions of the magnificent landscape of Indonesia and its warm people, themes centered on the revolution have been a mainstay for the artist’s oeuvre. Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit (Lot 32) is Gunawan’s fine tribute to the freedom fighters during the nation’s struggle. Through his art, Gunawan applies his artistry to humanize the revolution, offering an intimate point of view of the activities that happened in the course of Indonesia’s upheaval.
In the present lot, Gunawan portrays a group of guerilla fighters gathered on top of a cliff just before an attack. Guerilla tactics were widely known and effectively utilized during Indonesia’s fight against their colonial enemy. In this painting, Gunawan illustrates the protagonist bandaging the leg of his wounded comrades, while animatedly sharing a piece of information. The two of the soldiers in the background appear to be paying attention while interacting with each other. Armed with their loaded rifles at the tip of the cliff, the fighters strategize their next line of attack. Gunawan is able to build the narrative content of the painting with his dynamic compositions, demonstrating his expertise in arranging his subjects on the pictorial plane. With the open group configuration, Gunawan invites the viewers into the conversation, effectively allowing the viewers to be present in the moment. In the background, Gunawan paints a group of men and the ruins of buildings in the distance, appearing faintly from a bird’s-eye view. With light brushwork and a paler colour palette, Gunawan figures the background as complementary to his narrative.
Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit is Gunawan’s sincere homage to his beloved nation. It evokes the strength of the people and their unwavering fighting spirit on the road to liberation. At the same time, the work expands the viewer’s appreciation for Gunawan’s skilled brushwork, thoughtful composition and evocative use of colour.
This exemplifies Gunawan’s deep commitment to painting the lives of the people. Despite the fact that most of Gunawan’s paintings of revolutionary themes are less visually connected to his wayang kulit influences, their elongated limbs, big toes, batik motifs and their typical side-facing profiles, the works marks the beginning of Gunawan’s artistic journey as an early instance of his iconic style.
Formerly in the collection of the late Indonesian Air Marshall Omar Dani, Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit caught Dani’s attention during a visit to the artist’s studio. The painting instantly Dani’s patriotic sentiment, as a fighter himself during the Soekarno era. Dani was later rose the ranks to become Minister and Commander of the Air Force in January 1962, and remained in command until 1965.
This exceptional painting highlights Hendra’s immersion in the revolutionary struggle for independence in his formative years as an artist and can be read as the artist’s declaration of his steadfast patriotism and love for his country.
Hendra Gunawan was twenty eight years old when the Second World War broke out. Despite his active participation in the struggle for independence, his passion for art never wavered. Famed for his depictions of the magnificent landscape of Indonesia and its warm people, themes centered on the revolution have been a mainstay for the artist’s oeuvre. Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit (Lot 32) is Gunawan’s fine tribute to the freedom fighters during the nation’s struggle. Through his art, Gunawan applies his artistry to humanize the revolution, offering an intimate point of view of the activities that happened in the course of Indonesia’s upheaval.
In the present lot, Gunawan portrays a group of guerilla fighters gathered on top of a cliff just before an attack. Guerilla tactics were widely known and effectively utilized during Indonesia’s fight against their colonial enemy. In this painting, Gunawan illustrates the protagonist bandaging the leg of his wounded comrades, while animatedly sharing a piece of information. The two of the soldiers in the background appear to be paying attention while interacting with each other. Armed with their loaded rifles at the tip of the cliff, the fighters strategize their next line of attack. Gunawan is able to build the narrative content of the painting with his dynamic compositions, demonstrating his expertise in arranging his subjects on the pictorial plane. With the open group configuration, Gunawan invites the viewers into the conversation, effectively allowing the viewers to be present in the moment. In the background, Gunawan paints a group of men and the ruins of buildings in the distance, appearing faintly from a bird’s-eye view. With light brushwork and a paler colour palette, Gunawan figures the background as complementary to his narrative.
Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit is Gunawan’s sincere homage to his beloved nation. It evokes the strength of the people and their unwavering fighting spirit on the road to liberation. At the same time, the work expands the viewer’s appreciation for Gunawan’s skilled brushwork, thoughtful composition and evocative use of colour.
This exemplifies Gunawan’s deep commitment to painting the lives of the people. Despite the fact that most of Gunawan’s paintings of revolutionary themes are less visually connected to his wayang kulit influences, their elongated limbs, big toes, batik motifs and their typical side-facing profiles, the works marks the beginning of Gunawan’s artistic journey as an early instance of his iconic style.
Formerly in the collection of the late Indonesian Air Marshall Omar Dani, Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit caught Dani’s attention during a visit to the artist’s studio. The painting instantly Dani’s patriotic sentiment, as a fighter himself during the Soekarno era. Dani was later rose the ranks to become Minister and Commander of the Air Force in January 1962, and remained in command until 1965.
This exceptional painting highlights Hendra’s immersion in the revolutionary struggle for independence in his formative years as an artist and can be read as the artist’s declaration of his steadfast patriotism and love for his country.