Haji Widayat - 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Day Sale Hong Kong Sunday, November 24, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Private Collection, Asia
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Catalogue Essay

    Born in Central Java, the prolific artist Haji Widayat was among the first class of students to attend the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts (ASRI) in Yogyakarta. As a pioneer in the art of a uniquely Indonesian decorative style, the present lot is an enchanting example of Widayat’s meticulous, tranquil compositions. Rendered in a mostly monochromatic palette, the present lot displays a flatness that alludes to the influences of Indonesian Batik art, yet the work’s figurative features clearly differ from the more traditional patterns. Rich in texture, the flat motifs portrayed in the work fill the frame, demonstrating the artist’s vivid imagination and wide range of sources of inspiration.

    Exploring motifs derived from mythology or religious literature, Widayat would reinterpret them in his practice with an aesthetic that nods to both primitive and tradition art. Uniquely to him, however, is the sense of deep symbolism and magic that is evoked in his work, through his distinctive modern expression. With inspiration drawing from the spirit of his surroundings to imagery found in a variety of cultural sources, the present lot is a particularly narrative-driven example of his extraordinarily versatile practice. Exhibiting internationally throughout his five-decades of his artistic career, the mysticism of Widayat’s exquisitely unique aesthetic has been widely celebrated.

Property from a Private Southeast Asian Collection

180

Pergi ke Pasar (Trip to the Market)

1991
signed and dated 'h. Widayat 91' lower right; further signed, titled and dated '"PERGI KE PASAR" H. WIDAYAT 1991 h. Widayat 1991' on the reverse
oil on canvas
95.5 x 145 cm. (37 5/8 x 57 1/8 in.)
Painted in 1991.

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 200,000 
€13,700-22,800
$15,400-25,600

Sold for HK$125,000

Contact Specialist
Danielle So
Associate Specialist, Head of Day Sale

20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Day Sale

Hong Kong Auction 25 November 2019