Indonesia's National Gallery Showcases Abstract Artist Sadali’s Legacy

JAKARTA GLOBE 
By Norman Harsono

Guests looking at S. Handono Hadi’s ‘Al Fathikah E.’  (JG Photo/Norman Harsono)

INDONESIA---Ahmad Sadali passed away from an illness in Bandung in 1987 at the age of 63 but he has left a legacy of artwork in his name and inspired many Indonesian artists. In recognition of his work, the National Gallery of Indonesia choose him as this year’s maestro for its annual Exhibit for Indonesian Visual Arts Maestros. The public will have free access to view his works until July 14. He was an artist, a teacher and a devout Muslim. He used marble paste — a cement-like substance — to make the texture more pronounced. Many of these works also feature Arabic calligraphy quoting the Koran. He may also use pure gold ink as a finishing touch. Noticeably he avoids depicting concrete images, following a more traditional line of Islamic art. [link]