Si Hitam dan Si Putih (The Black and the White), 1963

Oil on canvas
100 x 75 cm
Collection of Galeri Nasional Indonesia
 
Throughout his career, Danarto has been better known as a writer, rather than as a painter. On a number of actions, these two artistic trajectories have intersected. One example of this is the painting, Si Hitam dan Si Putih (The Black One and the White One). These two figures are based on Bekrakakan, a figure from his short story, Armageddon, which he wrote in 1968. The figure is opposite: its head is at the bottom; its legs are at the top and its arms are spread out. Next to it, there are two white figures which are paying attention to the black figure. There is also a face or a mask next to the black figure, covered with a few patterns which serve to make the space become abstract. Although the painting is replete with elements of expressionism, there remain decorative elements which show how artists of this era wished to deconstruct traditional styles and develop them in accordance with expressionist styles. Through this painting, Danarto reflects on universal values concerning the struggle between good and evil as well as how many other people become victims of this struggle.

 

About the Artist

Danarto is most widely known as an literature figure, but his engagement with the arts was broad. As a graduate from ASRI in Yogyakarta, Danarto was also familiar with canvas and various other visual arts media. In 1959, he helped establish the Sanggar Bambu as a cross-disciplinary arts platform. He wrote monologues, scripts and plays. He also worked as an artistic director for various films. Throughout all of his artistic explorations, Danarto’s works were known for their absurd and surreal approach.


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