IO, Jakarta – A visual work, paintings or art installation has its own way of highlighting the meaning of creation. In the hands of Soni Irawan, an internationally-awarded artist, two guitar-based masterpieces, along with others, were the core of an art exhibition entitled “Nothing Perfect Noise” featured at Dgallerie, Jakarta. In this event, Soni Irawan presents acrylic paintings, art reliefs printed on paper and an installation using guitar platforms.
“Nothing Perfect Noise” reveals the way music is part of Soni Irawan’s life. His musical enthusiasm is very strong, thus the visuals and titles he attaches to paintings have an association that shows how Soni contemplates music to sharpen his work. Thus, when entering the exhibition space, music is seen as a complete study and prominent object point.
His first work is called “Life Must Grow.” He combines a Jaguar Fender guitar with its neck connected to 23 other necks, each pinned in a fashion replicating a series of twigs on a tree. Aside from its complex structure, the Jaguar Fender can still be played although it’s a 250 cm x 250 cm x 10 cm instrument hanging on the wall. His second work is called “Breaking the Wall.” Here, the winner of “Best 5 from Phillip Morris ASEAN Art Award 2001” combines electric guitar parts with bricks and cement; hence, the guitar body takes the shape of a broken wall. This work’s dimensions are more compact but heavier compared to the tree-shaped guitar installation.
Previously, Soni was known as an indie musician, noted for his and odd-style looks wherever he performed on stage. No wonder that some people easily recognized him long before his paramount art installation. For Soni, expression and passion for freedom is what he deliberately wanted to share with art enthusiasts. His idea of artwork was quite spontaneous. That is what he also applied to a work called “composition of chaos” said Alia Swastika, the art gallery curator.
“Looking at Soni’s paintings in this exhibition, it seems clear that a “composition of chaos” perspective is what he really wants to represent,” says Alia.
In addition to both guitar-based masterpieces, Soni Irawan also features several endless-flow paintings displayed in the gallery. Here, he applied pure abstract painting, realism, and the famous low-brow comic shape which was once popular in Indonesia, around mid-2000.
“Freedom also means flexibility in terms of style, accessing all possibilities and breaking through the limits of art,” says Alia.
Within the exhibition, there are also vinyl paintings called “Broken Records” that show the highest inspiration from the musical world. Contrasting colours and distinctive-shaped characters can be seen on the canvas, one against another in somewhat haphazard and messy settings. Focusing on most faces and heads, these characters were inspired by cartoons. Some of these frenzy elements were reminiscent of the legendary works of Basquiat. (Aldo)