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Lot Essay
Astri Wright described the process after the interview with the artist when the writer saw a work of the artist's, of which the creating process related to him. "Against the wall near us, up on a ledge, the canvas he had painted that very morning sat drying. It depicted a man selling balloons, a playful cloud of coloured spheres above his head. Affandi had seen him at the Sekaten night fair and had become so enamoured with the sight that he had asked this man to come to the gallery the next day. After spending a couple of hours painting him, he had bought all his balloons as recompense for the trouble." (Ibid, p. 111-112)
It is no doubt that Affandi painted from life. The familiarity he has with his subjects endowed his works with a sense of intimacy and passion that overwhelms the viewers. Piodalan festival in Bali is a recurring theme with the artist and yet the unique interpretation of the boisterous scene never fails to captivate viewers with the riotous festive joy so successfully re-enacted by the artist.
The date of Piodalan generally comes every 210 days. However there are also Piodalans which are celebrated every one year, and special anniversaries called Panca Walikrama, every five years. There is also one which Hindus call Eka Dasa Ludra which occurs every one hundred years. Each Piodalan day, followers of Hinduism in Bali go to the temples to pray. Complete with traditional clothing, carrying elaborate offerings, and accompanied by musical instruments, they come to ask forgiveness, salvation and happiness. Many of the large temples at Besakih, Uluwatu, Rambutsiwi as well as others are filled with worshippers from all of Bali as well as from other places such as Jawa and Lombok.
A great sense of rhythm is created with this present canvas that is befitting of the joyous occasion. Although a colorful event in reality, the artist decided to restrict his palette to yellow, green, orange and restrained spots of red. In the busy mass of swirling movements, created by the thick impasto technique of Affandi, a sense of spontaneity is infused by the artist adding idiosyncratic details such as the strolling animals on the lower area of the work. By doing that, he creates a sense of intimacy and involvement that is equivalent to a snapshot of the mood.
It is no doubt that Affandi painted from life. The familiarity he has with his subjects endowed his works with a sense of intimacy and passion that overwhelms the viewers. Piodalan festival in Bali is a recurring theme with the artist and yet the unique interpretation of the boisterous scene never fails to captivate viewers with the riotous festive joy so successfully re-enacted by the artist.
The date of Piodalan generally comes every 210 days. However there are also Piodalans which are celebrated every one year, and special anniversaries called Panca Walikrama, every five years. There is also one which Hindus call Eka Dasa Ludra which occurs every one hundred years. Each Piodalan day, followers of Hinduism in Bali go to the temples to pray. Complete with traditional clothing, carrying elaborate offerings, and accompanied by musical instruments, they come to ask forgiveness, salvation and happiness. Many of the large temples at Besakih, Uluwatu, Rambutsiwi as well as others are filled with worshippers from all of Bali as well as from other places such as Jawa and Lombok.
A great sense of rhythm is created with this present canvas that is befitting of the joyous occasion. Although a colorful event in reality, the artist decided to restrict his palette to yellow, green, orange and restrained spots of red. In the busy mass of swirling movements, created by the thick impasto technique of Affandi, a sense of spontaneity is infused by the artist adding idiosyncratic details such as the strolling animals on the lower area of the work. By doing that, he creates a sense of intimacy and involvement that is equivalent to a snapshot of the mood.