Tari Kebyar (Kebyar Dance)

Srihadi Soedarsono's fascination with the movement and essence of traditional Indonesian dance has resulted in the production of iconic images representing a crucial part of Indonesian cultural history. Srihadi's art is an expression of the spirit of modernism. As his career parallels the history of modern Indonesia, it is also important to remember how the culture and history of Java has shaped his works and outlook in life. Hence even as he is acknowledged as one of the most representative abstract Indonesian artist, we see in his career a bridge between tradition and modernity, between figuration and abstraction.

Throughout his career, he has tirelessly refashioned and re-imagined the same subject matter; sometimes making subtle adjustments to the pose, rearranging the composition, varying the proportions or by using different combinations of colours in differing brush strokes and brightness. Elegant and poised, the unblended brushstrokes that Srihadi uses evoke a certain sense of vitality from the painting. The art critic, Jean Couteau has remarked that the 'visual melody of Srihadi's paintings, is, primarily, a melody of colour which has changed with time'.

A celebration of the elegance and energy of the Indonesian Kebayar Dance is an exceptional example of Srihadi's mastery of form and colour. The dancer's traditional dress fans out in a rainbow of colour that is brilliantly juxtaposed against Srihadi's characteristic use of white to denote the painting's background. A symbol for the purity of art, and dance as a vessel of cultural memory and transmission, Srihadi's dancers are a testament to the rich culture and history of his beloved home.