Hendra Gunawan

Christie's Hong Kong, May 28 2006, Lot 037
Private Collection, Singapore

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. There is indication of minor wear and handling on the margins of the painting, along with light spots of paint loss predominantly on the lower right corner and bottom margin, but unobtrusive. Upon close observation, there is a minute hole and indication of faint craquelures on the branch located on the lower left register. Under ultraviolet light examination scattered dots of general retouching on the figure and background is evident mainly on the figure's neck, chest area and sarong. Examination was conducted within the frame. The colors are softer in reality than the catalogue illustration. Framed.
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Hendra Gunawan is revered for his colourful paintings that celebrated rural life, and local traditions. His oeuvre is reflective of the transitions that were taking place in Indonesia during the post war era, with the artist at the helm documenting these changes. A political activist with artistic aspirations, he embraced painting as a medium in which he could express his ideals to a wider audience.

Similar with his peers, Hendra Gunawan represented Indonesia through the landscape and daily lives of the people. It may be said that his experience with the communist-inspired Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat (Lekra or the People’s Cultural Association), had a large influence on the themes of his paintings, notably with the depictions of village life and daily interactions.  He embraced a vivid colour palate as means to convey emotions, foregoing with the realist depictions that were popular in the works of other artists of this period.

Throughout his paintings, Hendra Gunawan has demonstrated his skill for storytelling, portraying his subjects in vibrant hues and scenarios to fuel the narratives of each work. Within Wanita Sabra Menanti (Woman Waiting Patiently), the woman is painted in soft tones to emphasize her feminine spirit. For the artist women were a vital part of his oeuvre. Unlike other painters who beautified women to decorate an artwork, the women who inhabited Hendra Gunawan’s paintings were gifted with active roles in the narratives.

This is evident in the present painting. As per the title of the piece, a woman is shown resting comfortably against a tree trunk as she waits expectantly for something or someone. However, she is not a passive observer in the artwork. Though she may be alone, the woman is engaged in the natural landscape, actively enjoying the quietude. It is a portrayal of a single moment that may be perceived as ordinary, but within the artist’s paradigm, this moment transcends boundaries.