Masriadi was born in 1973 in Gianyar, Bali. He received his artistic training at the Institute Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Though Masriadi left his studies before graduation, he has since become one of the most sought after contemporary artists in Southeast Asia.
Masriadi was recognized very early on in his career as one of the first contemporary Balinese artists to depict subject matters other than the traditional Balinese life, culture and traditions that had thus far been the mainstay of his contemporaries. His distinctive style is instantly recognizable and though his paintings undoubtedly carry a comical undertone, they also hint at a social commentary that provokes deeper thought within the viewer.
The present work is executed in Masriadi’s signature style, with the protagonist, a boxer, painted in vibrant hues standing on a pristine beach. Boxing is one of Masriadi’s most important and persistent themes. This may be because he admires the boxer’s most precious commodity, his fighting spirit. This desire to win at any cost, overcoming all challengers, defines the age old sport of pugilism. Here, the boxer is depicted saluting and proclaiming “Hargaku cuma Rp 213,483,905.00 Sir!” which translates as “My price only Rp 213,483,905.00 Sir!”. Although clearly still recovering from his last bout, the victorious boxer is already affirming his eagerness to get into the ring again. This is the fighting spirit that Masriadi so admires, the “never say die” attitude that pushes the boxer on though all adversity. In this case however, the boxer’s eyes are swollen, and perhaps blinded by his own ambition, he fails to see that to fight again so soon would be detrimental to his health and quite possibly tarnish his fighting record. In a wider sense, this sentiment can be applied to Indonesia and her ambition to advance herself through modernisation efforts. Masriadi admires Indonesia’s fighting spirit and her seemingly insatiable desire to compete on a global level. However, if Indonesia lets herself be blinded by her ambitions and does not give due consideration to the consequences of so called “progress”, she may find herself in a far worse position as a result. Then, just like the boxer’s fighting record, the pristine beach upon with the pugilist stands may become tarnished and Indonesia’s ecological health may be irreparably damaged.
|
