Jenggala - Exhibition Cafe/Coming

Jenggala's Gallery Presents

"The Abstraction of Leaves"

Exhibition of Paintings & Hand-Painted Ceramics by
I NYOMAN SUJANA "KENYEM"

October 21th 2005 - December 15th 2005

I Nyoman Sujana, also well known as "Kenyem," was born on September 9, 1972 in Sayan, Ubud-Gianyar, Bali. He is one of few native painters of Ubud area who was able to break away from the shackles of the local painting tradition. Kenyem was first trained as an artist at the Young Artists Community in nearby Penestanan area, where he learnt about repetitive pattern. In 1992, Kenyem shifted to abstract when he continued his studies at the Indonesian Art Institute (STSI) in Denpasar. After graduating from STSI in 1998, Kenyem's work developed into many series that related to nature, animal and humans. All his artworks convey the same message; a better life is achieved through harmonious living between human and nature.

Leaves have been an everlasting source of inspiration for Kenyem's painting. Most of his paintings portray leaves as the main subject or as ornament that enriches the ideas he is trying to capture on canvas. Whether it is an abstract or realistic approach, the leaves seem able to bring the thoughts alive into reality. The paintings leave plenty of room for the viewers' interpretation on the meaning of leaves in reality and imagination.

Leaves spread colors, leaves provide space, leaves are motions, leaves are the light of hope and leaves fly freely…This is how Kenyem perceives the variety meaning of leaves in his life as well on his canvases. Leaves represent his emotions on a daily life observation on his surroundings. Each day adds a different meaning to the leaves on his creations; it gets richer and colorful. In his works, Kenyem equally puts humans and leaves; they compliment each other, creating an illustration of harmony on canvas. Leaves stand for a symbol of humans' hope for better and brighter kind of life.

Being awarded twice by the Indonesian Art Institute (STSI), Denpasar, in 1996 for The Best Painting of Kamasra Prize and in 1998 for The Best Artworks of Bachelor of Fine Arts Examination, Kenyem has been proclaimed as one of the outstanding and most respected artists in Bali.

In his first solo exhibition at Jenggala Art Gallery, Kenyem exhibits his latest series of leaves on canvases as well as on ceramic. He explained, "My interaction with leaves has been a long contemplation and how leaves have been bringing an artistic value visually in my paintings and ceramics. The array of color of leaves presents me with the freedom to explore and express creatively".

Jenggala Art Gallery is proud to present the paintings and hand-painted ceramics exhibition by I Nyoman Sujana "Kenyem" entitled "The Abstraction of Leaves".