Image: Affandi at an exhibition in Paris, 1953. Image source: Indonesian Affairs, April–May 1953, via Wikimedia Commons.

Affandi (1909 – 1990)

Affandi dilahirkan Mei 1907 di Cirebon, Jawa Barat. Setelah kemerdekaan, Affandi pindah ke Yogyakarta dan mendirikan Seniman Masjarakat yang akhirnya bergabung dengan Seniman Indonesia Muda (SIM). Tahun 1947, Affandi bersama Hendra Gunawan mendirikan Pelukis Rakjat (PR). Tahun berikutnya, dia pindah ke Jakarta dan mendirikan Gabungan Pelukis Indonesia (GPI). Mulai tahun 1949 hingga tahun 1951 Affandi pergi dan belajar di Santiniketan, India, atas dukungan Pemerintah India. Kemudian dia memamerkan karya-karya melalui pameran tunggal di beberapa kota di Eropa. Affandi sempat pula berpartisipasi mewakili Indonesia dalam Biennale di Sao Paulo, Brazil (1953) dan Venesia, Italia (1964). Pada tahun 1967, dia mengikuti program seniman residensi dengan mengerjakan mural teknik fresco untuk East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

 

Sejak 1950-an, Affandi mulai mengerjakan teknik melukis plotot, yakni menorehkan cat langsung dari tube-nya. Awalnya, teknik ini dikerjakan Affandi secara tidak sengaja, ketika dia ingin melukis dan kehilangan kesabaran karena tidak dapat menemukan di mana pensilnya. Karena peristiwa itu, dia menemukan kenyamanan dan kebebasan baru dalam melukis dan menghasilkan karya-karya yang lebih hidup.

 

Setelah memasuki usia lanjut, Affandi dengan The Affandi Foundation mengelola kompleks yang terdiri dari rumah pribadi, ruang berkumpul, dan museum yang menyimpan sekitar 250 lukisannya. Setelah meninggal pada 23 Mei 1990, atas permintaannya, Affandi dimakamkan dalam kompleks ini. Selain museum dan ruang berkumpul, kompleks ini dilengkapi dengan ruang pamer yang bisa disewa umum. Pada tahun 2007, keluarga Affandi dengan segenap masyarakat seni Yogyakarta dan sekitarnya mengadakan peringatan 100 tahun Affandi (Affandi Centennial).

 

1949 Affandi mendapat grant dari pemerintah India dan tinggal selama 2 tahun di India. Di sana, Affandi melakukan aktivitas melukisnya dan juga mengadakan pameran di kota-kota besar hingga tahun 1951 di India. Selanjutnya, Affandi mengadakan pameran keliling di negara-negara Eropa, diantaranya London, Amsterdam, Brussel, Paris dan Roma. 

 

Affandi juga ditunjuk oleh pemerintah Indonesia untuk mewakili Indonesia dalam pameran Internasional (Biennale Exhibition) tiga kali berturut-turut, yaitu di Brasil (1952), di Venice (Italia - 1954), dan di Sao Paulo (1956). Di Venice, Italia, Affandi berhasil memenangkan hadiah.

 

Tanggal 23 Mei 1990 pada pukul 16.30 WIB, Affandi menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya di rumahnya sendiri dan dimakamkan di kompleks Museum Affandi, Jalan Solo No. 167 Yogyakarta. Salah satu maestro legendaris yang sangat dicintai terutama oleh kota tempat tinggal terakhirnya, Yogyakarta, namanya diabadikan menjadi salah satu jalan besar di kota itu.

Affandi was born in May 1907 in Cirebon, West Java. After Indonesia gained independence, Affandi moved to Yogyakarta and founded the Seniman Masjarakat (People’s Artists), which eventually joined the Indonesian Muda Artists (SIM). In 1947, Affandi, together with Hendra Gunawan, established Pelukis Rakjat (PR). The following year, he moved to Jakarta and founded Gabungan Pelukis Indonesia (GPI). From 1949 to 1951, Affandi went to India to study at Santiniketan, supported by the Indian Government. He later showcased his works through solo exhibitions in several cities across Europe. Affandi also participated in representing Indonesia at the Biennale in São Paulo, Brazil (1953), and Venice, Italy (1964). In 1967, he took part in a residency program, working on fresco murals for the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

 

Since the 1950s, Affandi began working with a technique called plot painting, which involves directly squeezing paint from the tube onto the canvas. Initially, this technique was accidental; Affandi used it when he was frustrated because he couldn’t find his pencil while trying to sketch. This event led him to discover a new sense of comfort and freedom in painting, resulting in more vibrant works.

 

In his later years, Affandi, through the Affandi Foundation, managed a complex consisting of his private house, gathering space, and a museum housing around 250 of his paintings. After his passing on May 23, 1990, he was buried in this complex at his request. Besides the museum and gathering space, the complex includes an exhibition room available for public rent. In 2007, Affandi’s family, along with the Yogyakarta arts community and residents, held the centennial celebration of Affandi’s 100th birthday (Affandi Centennial).

 

In 1949, Affandi received a grant from the Indian government and stayed in India for two years. During this time, he engaged in painting activities and held exhibitions in major cities until 1951. Subsequently, Affandi toured several European countries, including London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and Rome. 

Affandi was also appointed by the Indonesian government to represent Indonesia at the International Exhibition (Biennale) three consecutive times: in Brazil (1952), Venice (Italy - 1954), and São Paulo (1956). In Venice, Italy, Affandi won a prize.

 

On May 23, 1990, at 4:30 PM WIB, Affandi passed away at his own home and was buried at the Affandi Museum complex, Jalan Solo No. 167, Yogyakarta. One of the legendary maestros, greatly loved especially by his final city of residence, Yogyakarta, his name was immortalized by naming one of the major streets in the city after him.

Source: IVAA Online Archive.