LOT 52
JEIHAN SUKMANTORO
B. Indonesia, 1938 – 2019
Dewina, 2010
Oil on canvas
45 x 45 cm
Private Collection, Singapore
Signed and dated “Jeihan ‘10” on upper right
RM 5,000 – 12,000
Internationally sought after for his tasteful figurative portraits, the hallmark of Jeihan’s artworks is his subject’s blank eyes. Dramatic and striking, the effect can be unsettling but the peculiarity and air of mystery surrounding it draws viewers in. Perhaps this is the artist’s commentary on not conforming to society’s standards. While there’s a saying that the eyes are the gateway to the soul, there is plenty of soul to be found in his work despite the absence of his subject’s eyes, as in this painting. One could discern a sense of calmness and quiet strength from the subject’s expression, and the transition from brown to orange in the background could signify the journey from darkness to hope.