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Lot Essay
Towering two-metre tall, Cloth Seller is a spectacularly dynamic work painted in 1981 by internationally renowned Indonesian artist Hendra Gunawan. With the use of flowy brush strokes and striking colours ranging from neon greens to sharp pinks, Gunawan captures the bustling scene of textile trading in Indonesian markets. The expressive figures of women and mothers show the impressive enthusiasm and strength embodied by locals as they engage in their everyday work of selling textiles. Gunawan differentiates the position of the buyer and the seller by contrasting their skin tones. The two women at the centre of the crowd have noticeably paler skin, while the others extend a piece of pink cloth for them to touch and examine. Vibrant and lively, the work boldly encapsulates a moment of cultural diversity through daily market life in the Indonesian community.
Hendra Gunawan was born in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1918. He emerged into the Southeast Asian art scene during the 1930s and formed strong connections with artists Affandi, Wahdi, Barli, and Sudarso, where he studied landscape painting and form among his peers. In 1935, Gunawan became one of the Kelompok Lima (Group of Five) artists in Bandung. He was also a member of the Sanggar Pelukis Rakyat (People's Artists' Studio) in Yogyakarta, and his involvement eventually led him into the communist-sponsored Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat (Lekra, People's Culture Association). A year after Indonesia’s independence in 1946, Gunawan held his first exhibition in Jogjakarta (Indonesian National Committee Building) with paintings on the themes of revolution, gaining him recognition as an artist. In 1965, he was imprisoned due to the abortive Indonesian communist coup. After being released in 1978, he embraced brighter colours and lighter themes of daily life, marking a change of style and subject in his art practice, as seen in Cloth Seller. While living in Bandung, Gunawan and his friends frequently travelled to nearby villages. Inspired by traditional everyday scenes, he captures his own culture in vibrancy and boldness, expressing his deep connection and pride to the Indonesian archipelago.
As an iconic figure in Indonesian art, Gunawan brought his work onto international platforms. His painting ‘My family’ from 1978 is featured in a main exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2024 with support from the National Gallery Singapore. This recognition underscores his significant role in Southeast Asian art. His works have also been showcased at local Indonesian and international institutions, such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, Indonesia, in 2023, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2022. By inspiring both local and international audiences, Gunawan’s artistry in capturing the essence of traditional Indonesian identity using modern expression makes his vibrant art not only significant to Indonesia but to the broader narrative of representing Southeast Asian art on a global level.
Hendra Gunawan was born in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1918. He emerged into the Southeast Asian art scene during the 1930s and formed strong connections with artists Affandi, Wahdi, Barli, and Sudarso, where he studied landscape painting and form among his peers. In 1935, Gunawan became one of the Kelompok Lima (Group of Five) artists in Bandung. He was also a member of the Sanggar Pelukis Rakyat (People's Artists' Studio) in Yogyakarta, and his involvement eventually led him into the communist-sponsored Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat (Lekra, People's Culture Association). A year after Indonesia’s independence in 1946, Gunawan held his first exhibition in Jogjakarta (Indonesian National Committee Building) with paintings on the themes of revolution, gaining him recognition as an artist. In 1965, he was imprisoned due to the abortive Indonesian communist coup. After being released in 1978, he embraced brighter colours and lighter themes of daily life, marking a change of style and subject in his art practice, as seen in Cloth Seller. While living in Bandung, Gunawan and his friends frequently travelled to nearby villages. Inspired by traditional everyday scenes, he captures his own culture in vibrancy and boldness, expressing his deep connection and pride to the Indonesian archipelago.
As an iconic figure in Indonesian art, Gunawan brought his work onto international platforms. His painting ‘My family’ from 1978 is featured in a main exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2024 with support from the National Gallery Singapore. This recognition underscores his significant role in Southeast Asian art. His works have also been showcased at local Indonesian and international institutions, such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, Indonesia, in 2023, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2022. By inspiring both local and international audiences, Gunawan’s artistry in capturing the essence of traditional Indonesian identity using modern expression makes his vibrant art not only significant to Indonesia but to the broader narrative of representing Southeast Asian art on a global level.