Face to Peace

STEFAN BUANA

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STEFAN BUANA

Power of Funding Father, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas 170 x 150cm

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FOREWORD

Stefan Buana’s life advice to us,

“THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD IS BECOMING YOURSELF” can be found on his studio wall. What we may glean from this quote that is telling of Stefan’s character, is a strong regard to identity, heightened feeling, and personal expression. The way Stefan sees the world may also be found in “Face to Peace”, a series of paintings that is an intimate exploration of different facial features.

To chart the progress of this unexpected artist, Stefan was raised in Padang Panjang and born to a navy in 1971. Stefan’s heeded his artist calling instead of following his father’s military footsteps. He went on to study at the High School of Fine Art (SMSR) in Padang, graduating in 1992. A year later, he continued his studies at the Art Institute of Indonesia in Yogyakarta (ISI), graduating in 2003. The experimental, expressive strokes characteristic of Stefan’s emerging body of art can be considered as an artistic maturation to personal style. The way Stefan paints is a pronounced departure from realistic painting techniques he was exposed to as a young boy.

Evidently, Stefan values texture and lines in Face to Peace. The artist forms these faces by lines made from scratches or materials such as threads and wires. It is these very lines that give the faces a kinetic quality, shape shifting from features seemingly realistic into a dream-like state. Where some of his pieces crowd a mass collective of faces into a single frame, some of them even over lapping, that is not so unlike a glimpse into a brim packed city train carriage at peak hour. Yet, Stefan does not lose this ability to retain the identity of

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his faces, for not one is like another. He also gives the canvas surface texture by applying a coarse, organic color. The way Stefan forms images on the rough can be traced back to the derivations of Neolithic cave wall art.

T H O U G H S T E FA N ’ S I N C L I N AT I O N T O ROUGH TEXTURED PAINTINGS IS ROOTED I N A N T I Q U I T Y, H E C O N T I N U A L L Y S E E K S TO UTILIZE UNCONVENTIONAL TECHN I Q U E S T O P R O D U C E H I S A R T. Stefan spontaneous painting capabilities were fostered through painting activities on the Yogyakarta Malioboro Street as a street painter. Now, he applies the same attitude to his artistic experimentation with any kind of materials and techniques. The way he explores his color palette is based on this experimental thread.

Stefan is a master of expressing subtleties. To Stefan, even a color like black does not exist as a solitary dark point. It may occur in harmony with both primary and secondary hues alike in red, blue, yellow, green or brown To Stefan, art is a close representation of life. He views art as an integral totality of our daily lives as social beings. To this effect, Stefan’s art may certainly shed light on various social and political issues he is concerned with. His artistic commentaries expound on the general environment of the Indonesian climate, thoughts on the birthplace of Western Sumatra, and even a specific conflict resolution among artists in Yogyakarta. Stefan’s belief to receive all disputes with sportsmanship foregrounds the extensive network of stable strokes and scrapes in his paintings. And though he has a hand in many of these social viewpoints, Stefan’s righteous life and art philosophy are the same.

It is with this simple notion to explore the intricacies of the world through art that I proudly present you the master of subtleties, Stefan Buana.

Jazz Chong Director, Ode To Art

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Power of Bibir, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 150cm

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Spirite of Mega (Megawati), 2015 150 x 80 cm

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INTRODUCTION

This exhibition will examine recent works of Stefan Buana. “Face to Peace” are a series of paintings by Stefan Buana showing different facial features. Faces marked by using sketches on canvas textured. In traditional art, men created objects that are used to pray to their God. “Rajah” is a term to describe objects or artifact from Indonesian traditional culture to bring spiritual power for its own. Usually ‘rajah’ contained with the kind of writing spell or praying words to create fortunes or other purposes to anyone who keep it. In his paintings, Stefan uses the spirit of creating written prayer or hope in simple ways, like a scratch on the textures of his painting canvases and putting many lineal materials such as threads and wires.

S T E F A N B U A N A’ S P A I N T I N G S D E P A R T I N G FROM THE BASIC ACTIVITY IN THE VISUAL A R T S , T H AT I S F O R M E D B Y T H E L I N E S .

Even the lines are not created through shades, but with scratches, streaks, or putting some objects such as threads and wires. Should primitive art in ancient caves, Stefan replicated the cave wall with a matching colour canvas with a coarse texture organic coloured applied on canvas. His painting’s surface almost never slippery smooth. A canvas filled with irregular and unique texture. Stefan Painting instead of building forms and images through colour or field, but through the line strokes. The line into the main elements that build the whole field outside the dominant colour of the canvas background and real texture. Texture on his canvases were not only illusions textures, but also real textures, using painting pigments or other material.

Birth of son of a navy, Stefan did not think he would be an artist. Raised in Padang Panjang, Stefan even

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thought he would follow his father in the military.

Teenager, Stefan began to recognise art. His teacher, who saw his talent, support for further study in fine arts. At first, Stefan knows art through his father's image in his journal. From his father, Stefan 'acquainted' with Picasso, Henry Moore, Paul Gauguin, and so on. After graduating from junior high school, Stefan proceedings in schools, to High Art School (SMSR) in Padang. This is where he started to learn realistic painting techniques such as Dullah’s style, Basoeki Abdullah, as well as local painters of West Sumatra, Wakidi famous local painting of West Sumatra. After studying art in SMSR, Stefan was more interested in experiments in colour. For him black is not just black only, but various kinds of black, dark brown, reddish, greenish even. Likewise, every material will bring a different colour, character, such as the difference between charcoal’s black with black water-colour.

During the study, Stefan fascinated with fellow students from Bali. The Balinesse students it has the ability to draw with more character, expressive, and spontaneous.

As a young boy from Sumatra who are only familiar with the realistic painting, Stefan fascinated with the different styles. In his experimentation find his own style by creating cracks in the texture of his paintings.

Spontaneous painting capabilities also fostered through painting activities on the Yogyakarta Malioboro street. While studying Stefan earn money by painting portraits of visitors who traveled to Malioboro street.

As a street painter, painting with a spontaneous and quick way necessary to serve the tourists who come and go. Those kind of experiences constructed his artistic choices today. The passion of experimentation in any kind of materials and technique until now. His artwork is not quite done with conventional techniques alone. Rough texture painting became a feature of his work. In conducting the experiment, Stefan still takes into account the processing of quality materials and by relying on aesthetic sensibilities.

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O N E O T H E R T H I N G T H AT I S N E V E R O U T O F H I S L I F E I S T H E C O N V I C T I O N T H AT A RT I S A N I N T E G R A L T O TA L I T Y O F T H E D A I LY L I F E A S S O C I A L B E I N G S .

His attitude many viewpoints was seen through the works of graffiti on the walls of his studio, and in various media, including social media (Facebook).

Through Facebook, Stefan shows his statements to various social and political issues. Concern passing of a general environment, such as the social and political situation in Indonesia, to which specific, such as the relationship between people in the vicinity, including the art world in Yogyakarta. The concern is what dragged involved in some conflict reconciliation among artists in Yogyakarta, to the birthplace of western Sumatra.

Of the various statements that spread through social media, showing how Stefan looked at life and resolve social problems. His attitude firmly in every conflict, namely that any dispute should be resolved with sportsmanship, similar to strokes in his paintings, which impress a scraping action in the field of hardware. It is this attitude to be explored in the works of Stefan and his relationship with verbal statements through social media Facebook.

Rain Rosidi Art Curator

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Spirit of Gandhi, 2015 100 x 100cm

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Curhat Paripurna #1, 2015 90 x 120cm

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Power of Bibir, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 150cm

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Stevan Gogh, 2015 70 x 80cm

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Night Party, 2015 Media on Canvas, 100 x 140cm

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Face to Peace #2, 2015 Mixed media on Canvas, 100 x 100cm

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Sarapan Dan Harapan, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 60 x 90cm

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Guratan Peci Hitam, 2015 Mixed media on Canvas, 60 x 80cm

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Smile Marilyn, 2015 120 x 150cm

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Bersatu Bukan Berseteru #1 and #2, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 150 x 260cm

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Reality Face to Piece, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 150cm

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Spirite of Gus, 2015 150 x 80 cm

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Kenduri Antar’’Rupa dan Wajah’’, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 154 x 250cm

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Sang Nahkoda, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 170 x 300cm

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Spirite of Joko (Joko Widodo), 2015 150 x 80 cm

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Tetap Optimis Ditengah Negeri Krisis, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 150 x 150cm

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Wajah Anak Negeri Ku Kini, 2015 150 x 120cm

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Curhat Sama Dengan Night Party, 2015 Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x 100cm

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Curhat Paripurna #2, 2015 100 x 100cm

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SOLO EXHIBITION

2015

SOLO Exhibition Ode To Art, Singapore

2011

“Memoir of Rice” ICC (International Culture Centre) Pandaan, Surabaya, Indonesia.

2010

“Mental Gerilya” Toni Raka Contemporary Gallery – Bali, Indonesia.

2009

“Wake Up” in Willy Valentine Gallery Singapore

2008

“Fragmen”, National Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2006

“Batik Gempa Parang Lindu”, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

2005

“Kampuang Nan Den Cinto”, Hadiprana Gallery, Kemang, Indonesia.

2004

“Ayat-ayat Stefan (Stefanic Versus)” Duta Fine Art Gallery, Kemang, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2002

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Animal Farm” Gallery 678, Kemang, Jakarta, Indonesia

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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION

2014

BAKABA Sakato Group Exhibition Unity in Diversity, Affinity of Art, HongKong

2013

Highlight 9 Artist program Open studio FKY ke 25Yogyakarta –Juni.

Highlight—Program Live Cooking FKY ke 25—Plasa Ngasem Yogyakarta.

The Straight Countour—Kupu-kupu Jimbaran Art Space-Bali.

Transafantgarde—AJBS Galllery Surabaya

2012

“Garis Bawah”- Institut Seni Indonesia—Padang panjang -Sumatra Barat.

Sumatra Biennale #1­—Taman Budaya PadangSumatra Barat.

Romancing Indonesia—Royal Opera Arcade Gallery,Pall Mall,London.

“Future and Reality”, The 5th Beijing International Art Biennale, The National Art Museum of Cina, Beijing, Cina. ( 28 September ).

“Pameran Patung Out door—Malioboro Expo ( FKY 24 ) Yogyakarta. *Festifal kasongan—pemanfaatan Bambu dlm visual karya.

“HOMO LUDENS #3” ,Emittan Gallery Surabaya.

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“Memaknai Pusat”, Yogya Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

“Behind the Surface “, One East Asia, Singapura.

Artist Museum Week in Batu Belah Art Space, Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia.

50th Anniversary of Gallery Hadiprana, Gallery Hadiprana, Jakarta, Indonesia “Heritage “ Mulia Hotel, Jakarta. Indonesia.

Homo Luden III Emitan Gallery, Surabaya, West Java. Indonesia.

“Kembar Mayang” Widayat Museum, Magelang, Central Java Indonesia.

“Trans Visual” Gallery Tembi, Yogyakarta Indonesia.

2011

Pameran 12 seniman kontenporer terkenal Indonesia—Documenting Now, person to person. 12 Cotemporary Artist an Indonesian Country in UPT Gallery ISI Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (curator Mike Susanto) “Preview”, Tembi Galleri, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Lanscape of Nation; The Symbolic Mountains & Farming Museum Basoeki Abdullah, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Pameran Islamic “Bayang” Indonesia National Galery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

City of West Green Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Homoluden II, Emittan Galeri, Surabaya, Indonesia.

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2010

Went Gallery, New York, USA BAKABA Sakato Art Comunity JMN Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Abstrak, Canna Gallery Anyversary, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Percakapan MASA, National Gallery Jakarta, Indonesia.

Grand Carnival Pacific Place, Ritz Carlton, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2009

LESBUMI at Kali Opak Pesantren Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

2008

Kaba Rang Rantau at Ego Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2007

EKSISTENSI—Yogya Galleri, Indonesia.

FETIS, Biasa Gallery—Bali, Indonesia.

ELEVEN, ELCANNA Gallery Jakarta 100 Years Afandi, Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Senirupa Nusantara, National Gallery Jakarta, Indonesia.

2006

Paramitra—Mon Decor Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

With Putu Sutawijaya at Warwick purser House— Tembi,Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Exhibition at Yogyakarta National Museum (Gampingan ISI Yogyakarta), Indonesia.

2005

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‘Art for Aceh’, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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Sculpture Exhibition, Citraland, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Bazar FKY, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Bincang Bincang Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2004

‘Understanding Language’, Siena Gallery, Semarang, Indonesia.

2003

Indofood Award Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Indonesia Art Award Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2002

‘100 days Anniversary of H. Widayat’, Museum Widayat, Magelang, Indonesia

2001

6 Bali Artists, Santi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sakato, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

2000

Trio Exhibition, Kembang Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

1999

PRASIDHA Group Exhibition 93, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Duo Exhibition, Ardiyanto Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Duo Exhibition, Kinnara Gallery, Bali, Indonesia.

Lustrum ISI Exhibition, Yogyakarta & Bali, Indonesia.

A Week Art Festival, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

1998

Affandi Prize Exhibition, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. .

IKAISMI Group Exhibition, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

‘Introspeksi’, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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FKY Exhibition, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

14th ISI Anniversary Exhibition, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

‘Festival of Abstraction’, Duta Fine Art Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia.

‘Refleksi Zaman’, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 1997

FKY Exhibition, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award Exhibition, Jakarta & Bali, Indonesia.

‘Sakato’, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Sculpture Exhibition, Citraland, Jakarta, Indonesia.

1996

FKY Exhibition, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

‘Pameran Besar Padang’, Yogyakarta & Padang, Indonesia.

‘Young Artists Exhibition’, Benteng Vredeburg, Jakarta, Indonesia.

‘Dialog Dua Kota ISI-IKJ’, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

1995

‘Sakato 1’, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Dies Natalis ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

1994

FKY Exhibition, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

‘PRASIDHA 93’, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

1993

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Performing Art, Happyning Art Jokjakarta-Solo

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AWARDS

2013

The Best work in Sumatra Biennale—Padang ( west Sumatra ) Finalist New York-Biennale

2012

Finalist Sumatra Biennale Finalist Beijing Biennale Predicate worst work and Low -value as well as the work Tisna Sanjaya in 2011 , Posted by Agus Darmawan T ( Art Critic ) Best works in AMW activities - Artist Museum Week at - Batu Belah art space- Klungkung Bali with Barrack Art Community. The Art work “ My Eagle Flapping Now “ gets “ appreciation “ the only artist who works in the ceremony with art Bale Ganjur for “ Rarung “ his work at Lepang beach Klungkung area.

2011

12 famous contemporary Indonesian artists in the exhibition documenting Now - The Gallery UPT ISI (curator by Mike Susanto ) Winner Top 25 BACA, Bandung.

2010

Jakarta Art Award Finalist, Jakarta.

2006

Creating original BATIK GEMPA (Earth Quake Batik) Parang Lindu, year 2007 presentation by Prof. Dr. Soeprapta Soejono MFA at Osaka University, Japan.

2003

Indofood Finalist

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Philip Morris Art Award Finalist 2002

Indofood Finalist

2001

Beppu Biennale, Japan Top 3, Nokia Art Award Jakarta-Bangkok

1999

Indonesia Finalist in Winsor and Newton World Competition, Bandung

1998

Best Picture in Dies Natalis ISI XVI Best Picture in “Seni Refleksi Zaman” in Benteng Vredenburg

1997

Finalist of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award

1995

Yogyakarta Artist in “ Pekan Seni Mahasiswa ” Indonesia in Jakarta

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Face to Peace Stefan Buana First published 2015 Ode To Art Raffles City 252 North Bridge Road, Raffles City Shopping Centre, #01-36E/F, Singapore 179103 T +65 6250 1901 F +65 6250 5354 Ode To Art Kuala Lumpur 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, The Pavilion, #06-24E/F, Kuala Lumpur 55100, Malaysia Tel: +603 2148 9816 Fax: +603 2142 6816 info@odetoart.com odetoart.com Š Ode To Art 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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