Meniti Bumi, Rustamadji Klaten / Walking the Earth, Rustamadji Klaten

Since very young, seventeen years of age, through the end of his life at the age of eighty, Rustamadji, born in Ceper, Klaten - Central Java in 1921, had made significant contributions to the naturalist panting in Indonesia of which he now becomes one of the icons known in its history. He never stopped painting. His devotion to the profession was exemplary.

Formal education was never an obstacle for him to make creative works: he only finished the elementary school. He made it, anyway. In addition to becoming an icon of naturalist painting in Indonesia, he made his accomplishment in imparting his spiritual thoughts. As an autodidact he mined both abilities from within himself, developing them to a highly reputable level.

Despite his being a self-taught person regarding the knowledge of painting, he made his works on some academic basis. Every phase along has artistic career has its masterpieces. His sketches and drawings are excellent and admired by all art communities in Indonesia. The uncommon themes for his oils, and his high technical skills in the execution, consistently make marvelous paintings too. Even the Indonesian painting maestro Affandi once said, "To the eyes and in the hands of Rustamadji anything can become invaluable. On his canvas, a common chicken, a house fence, an earthenware water tank, a ditch, and through a spread of paddy, transform into jewels. Full of profound intenseness and explorations".

As an artist Rustamadji also continuously cultivated his thinking and spirituality. He recorded his mental and spiritual journeys in precious writings, twenty-six titles of which were given in Indonesian and the rest in Javanese. Some of them were scribed by other persons willing to write down what Rustamadji dictated. Rahasia Hidup (The Secret of Life) and Pengalaman Hijab Terbuka (The Ecstatic Experience of Hijab) are the volumes most well known. They deal with the reflection on and philosophical thinking of the Divinity and nature.

His struggles and progress from "nobody" to a "prominent figure" rooted in his determination since childhood. His life journey is recorded in Rustamadji, Meniti Bumi/Rustamadji, Walking the Earth by Agus Dermawan T., an acclaimed senior critic and writer of Indonesian art who personally knew Rustamadji well. This explains the deepness of the discussion while the whole style and language make the book easily accessible for anyone. This lavishly illustrated book is expected to give additional encouragement to all working in the world of art to generate ever increasingly good works, surpassing Rustamadji's.

Hardcover

Book condition: Near Fine. Internally very clean

Dust Jacket condition: No Jacket as issued

Author: Agus Dermawan T.

Dimensions: 29.5 x 30.5 cm

Print length: 132 Pages

Language: Indonesian, English

Publication date: 2009

Publisher: United Univers Publishing Pte., Ltd. ,Ijek Widyakrisnadi

ISBN:‎ 9791970718