Bayu Utomo Radjikin - Portrait IX

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Portrait IX

2009

Bayu Utomo Radjikin painted The Portrait series between 2007 - 2009. In this enigmatic self-portrait, we see his mastery of line and form as he depicts himself as a Malay warrior, in mid-silat. The warrior, his face set in shadow, emanates a powerful masculinity as the artist delves into the myth of the male-hero archetype. The warrior’s headdress, the tanjak (or tengkolok) and how it is tied, usually reveals the status and origins of a warrior. The tying of the tanjak itself is an art form that is closely related to the Islamic ideal of truth and beauty. While they can appear deceptively easy to read, Bayu’s warrior portraits present opportunities for rethinking the connections between tradition, heritage and identity.

Details

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimension:

199 x 145 cm

Date:

2009

Credit Line:

Collection of ILHAM Foundation

About Bayu Utomo Radjikin

Born in 1969 in Tawau, Sabah (East Malaysia), Bayu Utomo Radjikin graduated from the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). His practice which has ranged from sculpture to figurative painting explores public and personal identity, and social commentary. He was a founding member of the MATAHATI collective and is now the Director of HOM Arts Trans. Bayu’s deep understanding of the body is evident in his theatrical figure paintings and sculptures. His works allow the mystical and the personal to intrude upon each other, and invite the viewer to rethink what we believe about tradition.

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