text by Ari Mustikawati
images by Ari Mustikawati & courtesy of Kendra Gallery

Chusin Setiadikara is a well-known Bali based artist who is deeply passionate about realism. Having exhibited internationally in Germany, Japan, China and the USA he is now showcasing a selection of his work in the charity art project 'Frontline' in Seminyak at the contemporary Kendra Gallery. We stopped by his studio in Denpasar to find out more about the realism movement in Indonesia.

Are you originally from Bali? I was born in 1949 in Bandung, West Java and studied painting at Studio Rangga Gempol led by artist Barli Samitawinata in Bandung. How did you come to be living in Bali as an artist? Bali is a paradise for all painters. It has beautiful scenery and rich culture which inspires us to be more creative in our art. That's why I decided to move here for good in the 1980's. When did you realize you have a passion for painting? I couldn't tell you when exactly I developed a passion for painting for the first time, but I can tell you that I have loved painting since I was a child. How would you describe your work? Realism for me is the depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. Realism is about including every detail as accurately as possible, we may emphasize the ugly or sordid as it appears, realistically. I produce paintings that look 'objectively real'. When I draw fruit, an apple for example, I'm not only drawn to the beautiful red color, but also the worm that's appearing on the other side of it. Who would you list as your inspirations? Like so many other realism painters, my inspiration comes from everyday life and daily activities. It shows in my artwork 'ikan asin' that I created in 2000 and in my other work. What led you to realism? Is nudity your special interest? What attracts you to specifically focus on the female form? First, it was my brother who introduced me to realism and the more I learnt about it the more I liked it: and became deeply passionate about it. The real art for me is what we see in everyday life, something that looks usual, something common. A realist renders everyday characters, situations, dilemmas, and objects, all in a 'true to life' manner. Nudity is a basic foundation of realist. Every realism painter must have the ability to transfer the human anatomy to a canvas. I focus not only on female forms, but also male; although most of my nude drawing subjects are female. In my opinion, Indonesian females have a vague position in a largely patriarchal society and that interests me. I want to draw attention to Indonesian women as an equal sex, to address a rebalance of the genders in this country.

When did you start receiving a lot of international interest in your work? I have received several awards since 1996, winner of 5 Best Phillip Morris ASEAN Art Awards which led to me representing Indonesia at the ASEAN Art Awards in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2005, my artwork 'Float and the Might 1' received the Excellent Work Award from the 2nd Beijing International Art Biennale. Have you travelled much during your career as an artist? Yes I've made group and solo exhibitions in Japan, Thailand, Moscow, Washington DC, Berlin, and Beijing.

Where is your studio in Bali? I built my studio in Denpasar on Imam Bonjol. I sell my artwork at exhibitions only. What brought you to the 'Frontline Exhibition' at Kendra? I think Claire and Bruno at Kendra have a clear mission on contemporary art and charity projects. When they came to me with this initiative I signed up straight away. Art is the only thing I can contribute to society, so I can't see any reason why I wouldn't be involved. Your future plans? Next year I plan to do my largest solo exhibition in Jakarta and launch my biography, written by Jim Supangkat, a curator of my artwork during these years. And of course I'll keep working on charity initiatives, drawing and painting. Realistically speaking, my art is my life.