[navigasi.net] Museum - Affandi

This museum located at the west side of Gajah Wong riverbanks in Jalan Solo, Yogyakarta. It used to be the house of this one of the Indonesia’s best artist named Affandi. In commemoration of his 100th year in 2007, this museum is not only exhibiting Affandi’s paintings collections but also his daughters’ collections (Kartika and Rukmini). According to the museum’s guide, this museum still keeping around 300 of Affandi’s paintings that has never been exhibited before.

The entrance fee is IDR10.000, if you bring a camera you will be charged for another IDR10.000. They will allow us to take any pictures in every corners and artworks in this museum without any restrictions, including the paintings collections !

Built on about 3.500m2, the architects of this museum showing the simplicity of the owner’s way of life. Affandi designed this building himself. The rooftop was designed look like the banana leaf. The construction of this building was done step-by-step and in total there are 3 exhibition galleries, a house and a buffalo-drawn carriage which has a function as living room where they are all gather. This unique living room concept was designed based on the request of Affandi’s late wife, Maryati. She realized that as she grows old, her legs was not strong enough to climb the stairs to reach their main house back and forth. Initially she asked for a living room inside a caravan since they can also drive and go anywhere they want, but Affandi had another idea. Instead making her a caravan, he made a living room inside a buffalo-drawn carriage. This kind of ‘vehicle’ is used traditionally by many farmers and people in most villages in Java island.

	[navigasi.net] Museum - Affandi

The Gallery I finished in 1962 in 314.6m2 and officially opened by Prof Ida Bagus Mantra as the Director General of Education and Culture at that time. In this gallery we can witness Affandi’s paintings from the period when he just started his career up to those paintings on his last years before he passed away. It’s not only paintings actually, we can see sketches, water-colored paintings and also his oil paintings. Inside this gallery you can see an old Colt Gallant of 1976 and served as Affandi’s favorite car when he’s alive. He had modified this car in such way so the front shape will look like fish. Beside all the artworks, we can also see many honorary certificates given by many universities and organizations, such as the one from National University of Singapore in 1974. Not only that, we can see the Affandi stamps series published by Indonesia government long time ago. An old bicycle belong to Affandi also kept in this gallery, brings back all old memories about Affandi. He is the part of Indonesia’s modern art history.

In the Gallery II (finished in 1974 and officially opened by Prof Fuad Hassan, the Education and Cultural Minister at that time) we will find many collections mostly for sale. According to the museum’s guide this is due to the celebration of 100th year of Affandi rememberance. If you wonder why Affandi had his one and only painting style like this then you can find the answer inside this gallery. Affandi’s painting technique was famously known as he hardly ever used brushes. He will directly press the paint tube onto his canvas and start painting without using any brushes or palette to mix any color. In the sketch called “Self Portrait” Affandi wrote :

“I will put directly the color out of the tube onto canvas, for then I will ‘wipe’ it with my own hands or using pencil. I discovered this way and use it to ease and fasten my works. I use it not only because it can fasten my work, but that way won’t allowed any disturbance during the flow of emotions. If I use palette to mix colors, there will be a ‘period’ to interfere the flow of expressions and giving you an opportunity to use your brain” .

	[navigasi.net] Museum - Affandi

Gallery III used as the Exhibition Gallery for Affandi’s daughters paintings, Kartika and Rukmini. We can also see the embroidery works made by Affandi’s late wife, Maryati. This gallery finished in 1997 and officially opened by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. This gallery has 3 floors where the ground floor is used as the place to preserve all Affandi’s paintings. The 1st floor is used as the exhibition gallery and the 2nd floor is used as the restoration room.

Affandi’s house itself located inside the museum complex among his galleries. The roof of his house is also designed like a banana leaf. There is a small swimming pool used to open for public but when I came it was closed for quite sometimes already. This swimming pool was used to be the place for Affandi’s grandchildren to gather and play around, giving the chance for Affandi to be among his grandchildren

Inside the museum complex you will also see Affandi’s graveyard next to his wife’s, Maryati. Affandi passed away on 23 May 1990 and had chosen the space between Gallery I and II as his burial’s place surrounded by his lifetime artworks.

Being in this museum reminds me of this down to earth and one of the best painter this country ever had. He lived his life in a very simple way and used to be seen using a washed-out undershirt and sarong. He often seen sat and chatted with street vendors for hours in his outfits and nobody thought he was a famous Indonesia artist with worldwide reputation.

	[navigasi.net] Museum - Affandi

His way of pressing-tube-directly-onto-canvas technique is Affandi’s one and only signature style. I remember --more than a decade ago-- on the TV show, it featuring the old Affandi walked into his giant canvas with the help from his assistant. There, another assistant had awaited and prepared all kinds of oil colors next to the canvas. All tubes were opened and the paint came out of the tube a bit made it ready to use. Not long after that the awaited scenery begun. It was a cock fighting. While those cock kept fighting on each other, Affandi’s hand moved in a speed of light. He switched from one tube into another in a very fascinating way. No palette to mix any colors, no brushes used also. And the final result is the incredible painting called “Cock Fighting” in 1976.

Affandi’s paintings are famous for a local or international collector and the price of his collection is constantly increasing each year. His paintings was in Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction once. No wonder there’s people said “If you heard someone is selling Affandi’s painting for less than 300 million Rupiah, don’t believe it.” And somehow I don’t find it difficult to believe