Arie Smit

Acquired directly from the artist on the occasion of Museum Neka's 10^th Anniversary

Agus Dermawan T., Puisi Warna: Arie Smit, Penerbit Yayasan Seni Rupa AIA, Jakarta 1993, p. 97, colourplate
Suteja Neka and Drs. Sudaramji, Arie Smit, Koes Artbooks, Bali, 1995, p. 171, colourplate

This work is in very good overall condition as viewed. There is very light wear and associated losses to the paint along the edges of the work due to abrasions with the frame, but this does not affect the overall image. The paint layers are healthy overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no sign of restoration.
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Arie Smit gives a romanticized European account towards his experiences at the tropical island of Bali, and provided for his viewers an almost exaggerated perception of the Balinese landscape and culture. There is a thread of optimism running through his pieces which all seem to have an underlying feeling of wonder and freedom. Bearing a poetic realism, Arie Smit’s oeuvre is a dreamy confrontation of his Southeast Asian adventures.

Slope on the Mountain depicts an animated and playful scene of Bali’s mountains, featuring the abundance of flora and fauna on this sun-kissed island. The yellow rice fields are complemented by the cool blue hues and altogether, have evoked a sense of comfort. Throughout the course of Indonesian art history, the mountain has long been a symbol of the gunungan, a literal and symbolic entrance to the cosmos. As an embodiment of all elements of the earth, the mountains were filled with the oppositions of life, decay, and rebirth, violence and serenity. Previously being held as a war prisoner, Smit was locked behind bars for years before he regained his freedom. His paintings allowed him to portray his liberation, and expressed his happiness through the experiences and portrayals of the Balinese culture.