A Singapore art dealer is one of the reasons an Indonesian artist has enjoyed recent successes, including art both sold and auctioned at impressive prices and a new show in New York City.
The Singaporean art dealer first met Indonesian artist Nyoman Masriadi in the artist’s studio, marveling at the unique nature of the artist’s work. Though the art dealer was well versed in the creative world, the pieces that Masriadi were producing were like no other paintings he had ever seen before. Seeing that there was clearly something there and perhaps an untapped market to go along with it, the art dealer started showcasing some of Masriadi’s works in a Singaporean art gallery, bringing the artist greater visibility.
But the indications that Masriadi would be a great artist weren’t there from the beginning. In fact, Masriadi ended up dropping out of art school prior to his final assessments, citing the fact that he disagreed with the teachings of some of his instructors. Despite this, he kept on creating, particularly after several upheavals in both the art and economic worlds in the Southeastern Asian region. When one art period ended in the late 1990s, a period that valued realism and classical works, another age was ushered in. This new age sought to promote artworks with a message of social justice or other theme, and it was this period in which Masriadi thrived. His works treated social justice issues on a grand and unique scale, showing images of slavery coupled with thought-provoking titles, challenging viewers to go outside of their own, personal experiences to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
The artist became prolific, completing a large number of paintings, many of which enjoyed great success at auction. His artwork set auction records, the Singaporean art dealer saying that low estimates for the prices of the work were part of what ended up driving the higher returns. The artist himself stays humble, saying that he doesn’t quite understand what it is about his masterpieces that makes people want to buy them. Many of the artworks feature subjects with dark skin, including dialogues exchanged in speech bubbles. They might look cartoonish in some settings, but it’s the message behind the works that really resonate with collectors.
In addition to Masriadi’s show in New York City, he has also exhibit his body of work at the Singapore Art Museum.
Art is a wonderful way to explore a number of different themes and issues. You might find it difficult to express your thoughts on current events, but you should try taking an art class to see if you can express yourself in different mediums instead. Visit SGArtClass.com today to enroll in a variety of different art classes. From cartoon drawing to oil pastel art, there is sure to be an art class to interest everyone.
For more information about the Indonesian artist, go to http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/04/art-plus-masriadi-s-new-york-debut.html.