January
2004
- The profile page just updated with a profile
of Ni Ketut Sri Wardani, a woman Christian artist from Indonesia.
Special
pages is dedicated to Bali Christian Art Association - Exhibition
2003.
Work
by Artists from China, Indonesia
on Display at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa
ORANGE
CITY, Iowa-Artwork by two Asian artists will be on display
in Northwestern College's Te Paske Gallery when it opens in
its new location in the newly constructed Korver Visual Arts
Center.
"Images of God: Two Christian Artists from Asia"
features the work of Wisnu
Sasongko of Indonesia and He
Qi of China. The show's opening will follow a dedication
ceremony for the center scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, Oct.
10. Community members are invited either to the dedication
ceremony or to the exhibit itself, which runs through Nov.
26.
According to Karen Acker, chair of Northwestern's art department,
the exhibit gives a new perspective to the centuries-old tradition
of attempting to create a visual image of God for the purpose
of education and inspiration. "He Qi and Wisnu Sasongko
practice their art in countries that are overwhelmingly non-Christian,"
she says. "Considering this, their approaches to their
art and faith have much to teach us."
Sasongko is a young painter who favors acrylic and mixed media.
A 1995 graduate of the High School of Art in Yogyakarta, he
continued his studies at the Institute of Art in Indonesia.
He is a member of the Asian Christian Art Association and
has participated in joint exhibitions in Indonesia, Germany,
Canada and the United States. Titles such as "Hope for
Peace," The Water of Life I Bring," "The Guard
of the Meek" and "Under the Shadow of Love"
reflect both the spiritual nature of his art and the violence
racking his nation.
Qi, a professor at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, was
among the first mainland Chinese to earn a doctorate in religious
art. He has been creating modern Chinese Christian art for
more than 12 years-striving to change the foreign image of
Christianity in China by using artistic language, and at the
same time supplementing Chinese art the way Buddhism did in
ancient times. Far Eastern Economic Review describes him as
"arguably China's most internationally sought after contemporary
Christian artist."
Qi blends Chinese folk art and modern art styles, using a
riot of colors and rich compositions to portray-in unmistakably
Chinese contexts-images of Jesus Christ as a messenger of
peace and rejoicing. His paintings and embroideries have been
exhibited in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Germany,
England and the United States, and featured in such media
as the BBC, Christianity Today, and The Upper Room.
Qi belongs to the China Art Association, is a member of the
executive committee of the Asian Christian Art Association,
and is represented by the Lime Street Gallery of Lancaster,
Pa.
The Korver Visual Arts Center, the new home of the Te Paske
Gallery, is located along Highway 10 at 214 8th St. SE. The
gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday (excluding holidays) and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about exhibitions or the gallery, contact
John Kaericher, professor of art, at 712-707-7003.
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KOREA
The 25th
anniversary of ACAA was held in Seoul Korea on June 16-17,
2003 that coincidate with the 38th Annual Korean Christian
Artists Association Exhibition. The new committee of ACAA
for the next term was formed at that meeting, as follows:
President:
Dr Judo Poerwowidagdo
Committee:
China: Prof. He Qi
Japan: Soichi Watanabe
Philippines: Emmanuel Garibay
Sri Lanka: Rhuani Rambukwella
Honory
President:
Japan: Prof. Masao Takenaka
Consultant:
New Zealand: Rev. Ron O'Grady
Thanks
to Hanna Varghese of Malaysia, Alphonso Doss of India and
Jae Im Kim of Korea who have faithfully served in ACAA committee
for one period. At the time Dr. Judo Poerwowidagdo, thepresiden
tof ACAA gave certificate of appreciation to Prof. Masao Takenaka
dan Rev. Ron O'Grady for their long time support to ACAA since
the very begining.
The next ACAA executive meeting will be held in Yogyakarta,
Indonesia on June 2004.
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INDONESIA
Wisnu
Sasongko, member of ACAA from Yogyakarta Indonesia held his
solo exhibition in Yogyakarta on July 17-31, 2003 displaying
more then 30 of his artworks. He is in preparation to send
his artworks for an exhibition which will be held by the Northwesten
College, Orange City, Iowa in the coming months.
The Christian
artist in Bali, Indonesia has formed the BCAA (Bali Christian
Artist Association) on January 19, 2003. Their first exhibition
was on March 23 -April 21, 2003 and the second was started
from August 16 to September 16, 2003 at the:
Galery GKI Bali, Jl. Raya Puputan 108 Renon, Denpasar Bali,
Indonesia
Beside the exhibtion that involved 7 artists, they also had
a discussion about Christian Art in Indonesia. To know more,
please click: Special
pages is dedicated to Bali Christian Art Association - Exhibition
2003.
MALAYSIA
Anthony
Chan, a Christian artist from Malaysia will hold his solo
exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on December, 2003.
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PHILIPPINE
Egai Fernandez,
a Christian artis from Philippine has been commissioned to
do a mural for the Philippined Independent Church.
Emmanuel.Garibay of Philippine who is also the committee member
of ACAA is presently doing residency at AILM (Asian Institute
fo Liturgy and Music). He sees new possibilities to interact
with local artists. ¾ day programs for artists is in
the plans.
Solomon
Saprid of Philippine, passed away and was interred on,
28 September 2003.
Dr.
Judo Poerwowidagdo, presiden of ACAA:
"It is with sadness and sorrow that we heard the passing
away of our beloved Solomon Saprid of Philippine. ACAA has
been blessed by having dear Solomon Saprid as a founding
member of ACAA in 1978 in Bali and as a member of our Executive
Committee for many years. May God give strength and comfort
to the family in this time of sorrow."
Alphonso
Doss, ACAA form Ex Co member of India:
"I am extremely sorry to hear the news about the demise
of Salomon Saprid. He was such a nice man and a very good
sculptor. I express my deep condolence to his family and
friends."
Eulogy
for Solomon Saprid
-by: Edgar "Egai" Fernandez, Philippine
What
is amazing with Sol, as everybody - young and old calls
him - is his last wish - he wanted to be cremated and his
ashes be carried by the stream - not for romanticism as
an artist would have love. And it would have been easy to
understand and imagine - like one's ashes being carried
by the stream to the sea - and be a part of the horizon
where the sea meets the sky. It was not also a divine inspiration
like being a part of the river that never runs dry as justice
would. No, it was not, that but to save his loved ones the
trouble of visiting his grave during the annual observance
of All Souls Day. Filipinos really take time to observe
the day. It is a day to remember the departed. And one would
think it will be a very solemn observance. But far from
it as every Filipino would know, there's a fiesta atmosphere,
the observance becomes a feast and a family reunion. Sol
probably learned from experience. The traffic going to and
fro the cemeteries is unimaginable. Flowers would be more
expensive as well as candles. Not to mention the food preparation
for the family, relatives and friends who would care to
pass and light a candle.
Sol
wanted none of it. But the wish best describe Sol - caring
and sensitive who loves life and knew that loving life is
giving. As someone who has struggled through life for his
family before pursuing what he personally loves best - immersing
and spending the rest of his uncomplicated life to art.
He did not equate art with money. His art pieces may be
quite expensive, but the price is a different story. He
could be generous to friends that for no reason at all,
he would give sketches, even sculpture pieces. He gave art
works not only to individual friends but also institutions
like Ateneo de Manila and to various churches - to Sol,
it's a way of sharing. He used to be an active participant
of the Saturday Group with notables HR Ocampo, Legaspi and
others. As a sculptor, he is known for his Tikbalang series,
Tikbalang is a half-man, half-horse creature of the Filipino
mythology. He also translated into art forms his ideas on
everyday life, Dr. Jose Rizal's Sisa and even social realities.
Whether in sculpture or sketches, he was able to fuse strength
and sensuality that makes his art pieces mesmerizing to
look at. It is hard to speak of Sol without saying something
of his work.
I had
the opportunity to spend sometime with Sol - being members
of ACAA and the Philippines Christian Art Association. We
were together in various Asian countries and in those times
we would to into some serious exchange of ideas on art,
life and even some wacky wisdom on everything.
As a
man, Sol is a happy person who's always ready to make you
laugh. He knew his time was running out. We were able to
visit him, probably a month before he passed away. He even
made us sit for a portrait, something he said - a remembrance
before his visa from above is approved!
Although
there would be no grave to pay tribute to - Solomon Saprid
will always be remembered as he has created a space in the
history of Philippine art.
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NEW
ZEALAND
Rev O'Grady
the editor of the book "Christ for All People" on
behalf of ACAA has signed a contract with 3 German groups
who will print 500 copies of the book in the German language;
and Church of Sweden will reprint 500 copies in Swedish version.
There is a wish in Brazil to translate that book into Portuguese
as a suplement to a main book. The book "Christ for All
People" are still available in ACAA office with price
of $30 per exemplar.
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JAPAN
Soichi
Watanabe was elected as the chairman of the JCAA (Japan Christian
Art Association).
The Japan Christian Art Exhibition this year was held on July
16 to 27, at the Tokyo Gospel Fellowship Center in Ginza Church
it's the 27th Exhibition . Their first Exhibition was opened
in 1973. This exhibition was coincidate with the 30th anniversary
on JCAA. The Christian population in Japan is 1% of all people
and Christians are a minority groups. Therefore artists of
Catholic and Protestant organized the association and then
invited some artists of non-Christian under the idea of Christianity.
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