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Lot Essay
It is often commented that Hendra's infatuation with his people and country is life-long. This obsession is so overwhelming that the artist rarely deviates form the subjects of his beloved people and landscape.
Landscape is one of the pre-dominant themes for the works of Hendra. One of his often-explored compositions is the depiction of the grand landscape adorned with human figures. The grandiose of the landscape is often dramatised and accentuated with the use of vibrant and dramatic colours, uniquely from the palette of Hendra and the people, important as they are in the central themes of the artist, would never took the center-stage and the lime light in this category.
Keenly interested in folk art and theatre such as the kuda kepang and ketoprak that have influenced his depiction of people in profile or in silhouette and a certain stylised exaggeration of facial features and body figures - these are the apparent 'Indonesian' qualities that cannot be applied to the landscape. Yet, Hendra cleverly uses colours solely for the same effect on the landscape.
The composition for the landscape is classic, reminiscent of the 19th century Dutch colonial paintings of the East Indies. The perspective moves from the foreground deepening into the distance as the mountainous range grandly stretches itself, glistening with the glorious colours that do not exist in reality but in the mind and the spirit of her creator. Finally, the landscape acquires a dream-like quality that is as enchanting as it is sensuous, nurturing and majestic.
Landscape is one of the pre-dominant themes for the works of Hendra. One of his often-explored compositions is the depiction of the grand landscape adorned with human figures. The grandiose of the landscape is often dramatised and accentuated with the use of vibrant and dramatic colours, uniquely from the palette of Hendra and the people, important as they are in the central themes of the artist, would never took the center-stage and the lime light in this category.
Keenly interested in folk art and theatre such as the kuda kepang and ketoprak that have influenced his depiction of people in profile or in silhouette and a certain stylised exaggeration of facial features and body figures - these are the apparent 'Indonesian' qualities that cannot be applied to the landscape. Yet, Hendra cleverly uses colours solely for the same effect on the landscape.
The composition for the landscape is classic, reminiscent of the 19th century Dutch colonial paintings of the East Indies. The perspective moves from the foreground deepening into the distance as the mountainous range grandly stretches itself, glistening with the glorious colours that do not exist in reality but in the mind and the spirit of her creator. Finally, the landscape acquires a dream-like quality that is as enchanting as it is sensuous, nurturing and majestic.