Widayat: The Magical Mysticism of a Modern Indonesian Artist

The works of modern Indonesian artist Widayat show an immense variety of stories about nature, family life, myth, and ritual. They are rich in content, texture, and technique. From his first introduction to painting in the romantic colonial style to his self-discovery during academic studies, Widayat proved adept in many artistic media, techniques, and styles.

Widayat's preference for the simplification and distortion of natural forms had a profound influence on many other Indonesian artists. His magic-decorative style is a personal visual language mostly derived from folk motifs. Widayat focuses on inner structure rather than outward appearance. The re-petition of basic elements are ordered with an underlying rhythm to create movement.

The artist's works encompass all of his varied experiences as soldier, student, teacher, and religious family man. Flora and fauna, religion and mythology, masks and portraits, and daily life all are parts of his fantasy world. The Museum H. Widayat is a testimony to his creative genius and important role in the development of Indonesian contemporary art.

In this volume a detailed essay of the artist's fascinating life and immense variety of works is profusely illustrated with dozens of photographs and over 200 reproductions of his sketches, paintings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics.

Hardcover with dust jacket

Book condition: Near Fine. Internally very clean

Dust Jacket condition: Near Fine. Light general wear to jacket

Author: Helena Spanjaard

Dimensions: 24 x 29 cm

Print length: 256 pages

Language: English

Publication date: 1998

Publisher: Museum H. Widayat

ISBN: 979953450X