Lot 20
JEIHAN SUKMANTORO
B. Indonesia, 1938 – 2019
Mariam, 2011
Signed and dated “Jeihan 11” on upper right
Oil on canvas
70 x 70 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Singapore
RM 7,000 – RM 10,000
Jeihan Sukmantoro, who recently passed away, was born in 1938 near Solo (Central Java). At the age of six, he had an accident that left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Despite the incident, Jeihan completed junior high school and focused on art in senior high school where he received a class promotion for conducting a solo exhibition of 30 watercolours. Women were the artist’s preferred subject of choice, seeing a uniqueness in them, exuding mystery and character.
This particular piece entitled, Mariam uses cool toned hues with the medium of oil on canvas. She was painted against a vibrant space, focusing on the physical and non- physical reality of things. Jeihan regarded his subjects, like Mariam, as spiritual beings and draw indirect attention to her through facial expressions and body gestures.