RITA WIDAGDO, TIMELESS ARTIST

RITA WIDAGDO, TIMELESS ARTIST
By: B.T.

January 22th, 2022

It was almost a coincidence that we were in Bandung. At the same time, there was a solo exhibition of Rita Widagdo entitled “Equilibrium: Works and Thoughts – Rita Widagdo” at Selasar Sunaryo. We didn’t waste the opportunity to visit the exhibition, as we were already visiting Bandung. At Selasar Sunaryo, we were greeted by an introduction from Nurdian Ichsan, the curator, who that in addition to personal works, works for architectural purposes, and works in public spaces that Rita Widagdo has made during her 50-year career span, is also important for us to hear statements that underlie her creative process. “Because there are not many artists like Rita who can clearly explain and articulate their art principles and creative processes,” quoted Nurdian Ichsan, which was displayed on a white wall just after the entrance.

To fully read and understand the meaning of Nurdian Ichsan’s introduction and perhaps curators in general, it may be difficult for someone who is new or unfamiliar with the world of fine arts, perhaps because the language choices used are segmented for art practitioners. However, there is a quote from Rita Widagdo’s statement that made me, who was initially unfamiliar, feel a little more familiar. “Abstract art provides the opportunity for observers to build their own perceptions, thereby developing and triggering creativity within themselves,” she wrote. A statement may be quite brief, but standing in front of the wall and being in the midst of her works allowed me to feel and try to interpret what I saw, not something built and directed by the master sculptor. The lines, although curved, were very neat and synchronized, making me feel like I was in the middle of something very balanced. The feelings that came from every statue, model, and video documentation that I saw seemed to further confirm Nurdian’s statement that this Equilibrium exhibition represents Rita Widagdo’s balance in thinking and creating, as she said about precision, accuracy, and neatness in each of her works, “Rita’s aesthetic achievement is achieved through consistency and intensity in her work. This can be seen from the models, which are very special and important in Rita’s work. Almost all of the models were made by Rita herself with great care, precision, and neatness… In Rita, we see how an artist needs to establish their artistic vision so that it has a standard in their work. Without it, it is impossible to achieve consistency and intensity in the creative process.” It is no surprise that Rita Widagdo’s high standards and consistency have earned her the Lifetime Achievement Award from Selasar Sunaryo. This award recognizes her lifelong dedication and work as a sculptor and educator. The award, which is the first of its kind created by Selasar Sunaryo, is not intended to be given routinely. Rather, it will only be presented to individuals deemed worthy at moments. Rita Widagdo’s unique position within the trajectory of modern Indonesian art has been widely acknowledged, and her influence on students and subsequent generations of artists is considered significant.

This reminds me of a friend who is also an artist and once said, “Rita’s works seem to be timeless.” He showed me a photo taken with his mobile phone camera of Rita Widagdo’s wall sculpture at the Djakarta Theatre. Looking at the artwork, which has been displayed at the building since the 1960s, did not feel like seeing something outdated. Rather, it was like viewing a work (even a masterpiece) that is still relevant in the present day. Perhaps this is the power of contemporary art – the curves and lines formed by Rita Widagdo seem to transcend time. They do not need to change their form, as we see in the evolution of technology, for example, where each development brings about significant changes in the form of the product as if new things in their time are an improvement on what came before and must be embraced as a necessity. Speaking of Rita Widagdo, we can say that some things are timeless, particularly her artistic legacy.