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W.M. Hendrix

"I was born on September 28, 1972, the fourth of six children. My name is Hendrikus Widiyatmoko, but I use 'W.M. Hendrix' as my artistic name because it is short and easy to remember.

"My painting began in kindergarten where I was introduced to crayons. The teacher told us to play with the colors she gave us. I drew objects around me, like the cartoon characters I saw on TV, and other images from children's books or magazines. As time went by, I became so absorbed by art that I almost forgot what most children my age liked to do. Other kids were happy when their parents bought cookies and toys for them, but I eagerly waited for my mother to return from the market with colored pencils for me.

"To support my painting hobby, in 1989 I formally studied at the High School of Art in Java, and informally took classes from Dede Eri Supria, a senior painter. From 1994 to 1995 I worked at an entertainment company as Art Designer and Illustrator.

"I received a prize in the national teenage painters competition from the Indonesian Deparpostel Minister in 1991, a prize from the Indonesian Minister of Education for Science Sketch in 1993, and a Pratita Adi Karya prize from my art school for the best painting in 1993. I have participated in solo and collective exhibitions throughout Java and Bali."