Arif Datoem Captures Mystery, Bridges the Seen and the Envisaged in Solo Exhibition
Jakarta. Renowned photographer Arif Datoem tries to reach the very essence of people and places in his "LuminaSense Envisage" solo exhibition at the National Gallery in Central Jakarta.
The photographic and photo collage journey has brought the artist from the west to the center of Java in search of light, which he finds through long exposure times.
"Most of my works convey the message that there is always a way to find light in the darkness."
In photographs of people, he seeks sincerity, bare emotions and intentions.
"Through my medium, I want the subjects to show themselves, the waves of visual meanings they hold. I trace every intention and meaning when in close proximity with my subject. I intuitively capture the essence ... which is then embodied the artwork and becomes something new," Arif said at the vernissage on Monday (21/08).
One of the examples where his lens enters deep into the subject is a photograph of a trance dance with daggers performed by Baduy men in Banten, who practice debus — martial arts involving metaphysics.
With their capability to endure pain to achieve the higher level of consciousness, debus practitioners become one with their moves and everything that surrounds them.
"Almost everyone in the debus community in Banten understands the principle of living so as to become one with what they do. There is a famous expression 'aingingnya eta ingnyaaing,' which can be translated as 'I am that I am.'"
The expression, which in English sounds like the famous Biblical verse, may seem strange, but the "oneness of being" is one of the central notions of mystical movements in monotheistic religions.
In trance, a dancer becomes one with the dagger he holds. And so does Arif with his camera.
"LuminaSense Envisage is a living estuary, observation, reflection, as well as 35 years of my devotion to photography. Like a debus performer, who needs a dagger in his dance, I need my camera."
While Arif seeks the essence, curator Sudjud Dartanto captures the meaning of his art: connecting what we see with what lies deep within it.
"Arif Datoem's works connect people to mysteries, charm, places and cultures ... they bridge the gap between what is envisaged and and what is seen," he said.
The exhibition will be open until Aug. 31.
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