#2 JET's ARMCHAIR TRAVEL STORY: MUSEUM BASUKI ABDULLAH & D GALLERIE “KONGO’S STUDIO"
Sweet memories
Are not only derived from joyful moments
But also, from devastating events that left me weeping
- Basuki Abdullah
Who's excited to enter the new normal? I know I am. Going to the Museums and Galleries is number one on my to do’s list once they are re-opened.
Jakarta has a number of great Museums and Galleries to offer. One of these gems is the Basuki Abdullah Museum, located in South Jakarta.
Fransiscus Xaverius Basuki Abdullah (1915-1993) was his full name. If Raden Saleh is hailed as Indonesia’s maestro of the 19th century, then Basuki Abdullah, without a doubt, is highly regarded as Indonesia’s maestro of the 20th century.
The only Indonesia’s maestro who was, due to his status as commissioned painter of the Palace, was able to paint numerous Leaders, including Kings and Queens, Presidents and First Ladies, from King Bhumibol of Thailand to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, President Suharto to First Lady Imelda Marcos of the Philippines.
During his lifetime, some of his paintings are proudly presented as State Gift from Indonesia’s then President to his VVIP counterparts, the Head of State and Head of Government from other countries. One of which was Abdullah’s portrait of the then Pope John Paul II smiling and holding an Indonesian child which was presented by President Suharto as a State Gift to the late Pope.
His impressive body of works consisted from paintings and art collections. Abdullah’s artworks are found in stately Museums/Galleries from National Gallery in Singapore to The London Gallery in the United Kingdom.
Not to mention the special commission portraits by his famous Indonesian and foreign clienteles. From the 1970s to the 1990s, prominent families in Indonesia would not hesitate to go the extra mile for Basuki Abdullah to paint portraits of themselves.
Elegant and charming features of the model are highlighted by Abdullah in each of his portraits, including high cheek bones and slender neck for women, sharp eye contact and square jawline for men. This is what made him a darling among Indonesia’s socialites and celebrities then. No wonder that each of his creations would be sold almost immediately as it is placed on auction house, as they are sought after by art aficionados.
Most of his treasured artworks are housed in the Museum Basuki Abdullah. Once the residence of the late painter, the collection consists of renowned portraits of leaders and artists, collection of masks, sculpture, glasses, outfits, keris and my favorite Batik cloths.
Another gallery worth visiting is the D Gallerie located in Barito, South Jakarta. In late 2019, the gallery presented a pop-up gallery titled “Les Ephemeres du Kongo (Kongo’s Studio)” in Grand Hyatt Hotel Jakarta. The pop up gallery featured the distinctive artworks of Mr Cyril Kongo, a French-Vietnamese artist. Well-known for his collaboration with major fashion houses including Hermes and Chanel, Kongo’s works is one of the most sought after artworks in the 21st century.
Now, it’s time for JET to take you on an e-trip to Museum Basuki Abdullah and the Les Ephemeres du Kongo by D Gallerie in Jakarta via Instagram (@JETFASHIONDIPLOMACY), twitter (@JETFABDIPLOMACY), Facebook Page (JET's Fashion Diplomacy) and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/JoannesTandjungfashiondiplomacy/)
Catatan Kecil Untuk Rekans Diplomat dan Sahabats Fashionista:
Museum adalah tempat dimana kita tidak hanya dapat mengagumi keindahan karya seni tetapi juga dimana kita dapat menemukan banyak inspirasi. Dari lukisan indah, patung yang menawan sampai karya seni lukis dan rupa lainnya, dahaga batin kita akan keindahan pasti akan terpuaskan.
Pada saat berkunjung ke Museum dan Galeri, senantiasa promosikan Batik Indonesia ya gaes. Kenakan busana dari Batik, Tenun dan kain etnik Nusantara lainnya.
After all, while sightseeing all those priceless artworks, it doesn't hurt to look stunning in Batik too, right?!
The Basuki Abdullah Wall in the new wing of the Museum.
The fresco presents the life of this great Indonesian artist.
JET wears Batik indigo short-sleeved shirt by Yogyakarta-based Winotosastro Batik House.
One of Basuki Abdullah’s most accomplished works was the major paintings of Heads of States and Governments attending the 10th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Jakarta, 1992. Hosted by the Government of Indonesia, the Summit succeed in delivering the Jakarta Message, a major milestone to Non-Aligned Movement.
Now, who could still recall these influential leaders from the 1990s?
The late President Suharto (Indonesia)
The late President Yasser Arafat (Palestine)
Former PM Mahathir Muhammad (Malaysia)
Former PM Goh Chok Tong (Singapore)
Former PM Begum Khaleda Zia (Bangladesh)
and so on…
The Ambassador of Indonesia’s Paintings
Official Painter to Their Majesties: Kings and Queens
Basuki was a dearly beloved artist not only to Indonesians but also to the Royal Families in the world, including the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Royal Kingdom of Thailand.
Left: the reproduction of Basuki Abdullah’s painting on the late H.M. Queen Juliana, the Grandmother of current King of the Netherlands, H.M. King Willem Alexander.
Right: the portraits of the late King of Thailand, H.M. Bhumibol Adulyadej and his Queen Consort, H.M. Queen Sirikit.
The young and dashing Tun Sri Dato Mahathir Muhammad, then as Prime Minister of Malaysia, while attending the Non-Aligned Summit in Jakarta, 1992.
As the then portrait painter of the Presidential Palace in Indonesia, Abdullah often invited VIPs and royalties to make the first stroke on the canvas, which he would later completed.
During His Holiness’s visit to Indonesia in 1989, the late Saint Pope John Paul II was presented a painting of His Holiness holding an Indonesian child. Then Indonesia’s President Suharto commissioned Basuki Abdullah to execute this special painting as a State Present to Pope John Paul II.
One of his earliest works, Maria Assumpta (Ascension of Virgin Mary to Heaven) was painted during Abdullah’s study in Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, The Hague, in 1933. This painting is still kept in a monastery in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
This is an exquisite artwork by Abdullah as Virgin Mary is portrayed as a Javanese lady wearing black kebaya and Batik sarung. The Batik sarung displays Parang pattern, classic pattern for Royals in Java.
Abdullah is also a keen collector of Batik, this is one of his batik attire for dancing.
Basuki Abdullah’s poetic painting aptly titled: Sungai yang tak pernah kembali “The River that never returns”.
The silent witness to his life: Basuki Abdullah’s bedroom is filled with religious icons.
Fashion lovers be sure to visit this Museum to be inspired by Basuki Abdullah’s fab taste in fashion. JET is besotted with the late artist’s deluxe outfits, including his favourite Winter coats.
Basuki Abdullah in front of his two masterpieces, the portrait of President Sukarno (Indonesia’s First President and Founding Father) and Mrs Fatmawati Sukarno (Indonesia’s first First Lady) from the Exhibition in Hilton Hotel, Jakarta, 1984.
RIP Basuki Abdullah
Bienvenue a Jakarta, Monsieur Kongo.
With the self-made French-Vietnamese Artist, Cyril Kongo, who does not produce legendary artworks but also trendy and wearable artworks in collaboration with major fashion and watch houses, namely Chanel, Hermes and Richard Mille. He is wearing an orangey RM watch which feature his panelled artwork inside.
JET wears turquoise colored Batik with the signature Cirebon pattern of Piring Salampad. The Piring Salampad pattern represents the antique dishes which were presented as Royal Gifts from Chinese Emperor to Cirebonese Sultan in the past centuries, these dishes could still be seen in Astana Gunung Jati and the Palaces in Cirebon.
Similar to Kongo’s work which is a mixture of genre and influenced by various culture including French and Vietnam, Batik Piring Salampad is also a product of inter-twined Chinese and Nusantara, now Indonesia, civilizations.
Here with Mrs Esti Nurjadin, the smart & beautiful owner/founder of D Gallerie in Jakarta, who presented Les Ephémères de Cyril Kongo (Kongo’s Studio), presented by D Gallerie in Galleria Grand Hyatt Jakarta (November 2019-January 2020).
Kongo’s painting in collaboration with Chanel, inspired by Egypt. A series of paintings were commissioned by the late Karl Lagerfeld, then as Creative Director for Chanel.
Kongo’s luxe graffiti adorned the outfits and accessories of Chanel Metiers d’Art collection 2018/2019 by Karl Lagerfeld, one of Lagerfeld’s last collection to Chanel.
In his recent interview to Prestige Indonesia, he said that he recently visited the city of Solo. He wishes to develop his works on Batik, but there is still a long process to go. Truly anxious to see how his world famous graffiti interpreted in the authentic Batik from Indonesia.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at his colorful collab with Hermes which resulted in this sold out collection of Hermes scarves.
#JETFashionDiplomacy
#BatikDiplomacy
#MuseumBasukiAbdullah
#DGallerie
#CyrilKongo
#VisitMuseumJakarta
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