java dresses

Two women beat an intricate cadence on the gendang, the large drums present in the gamelan orchestra of Bali and Java. Dressed in the traditional costume worn for performances, they are serious and skilled musicians. Purwadi works in oil on canvas to create this beautiful and expressive portrait.

In this whimsical and surrealist work Herlina presents a creative twist on the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The artist is fascinated with the idea of Mona Lisa as a Javanese woman, painting a representation of the enigmatic woman in elegant clothing that exudes the traditional fashion of the island. She wears a vibrant red dress with a yellow-orange sash, her hair tied in a traditional bun.

Elaborately dressed in traditional style, a woman demonstrates grace and beauty. Harman depicts a Javanese dancer in passionate colors. "Dancing is a lovely movement of the body with traditional music, guided by the rhythm," the artist says. "Then the body follows the musical beat, making the dance look beautiful."

"We as God's creatures must have peaceful feelings and hearts. A peaceful heart allows us to forgive each other for all mistakes, maintain good relations with fellow creatures of God and be grateful for what we have and are. If we can live from the heart, we will feel grateful and will always be at peace" says Aldi.

In his painting, free-flying doves symbolize world peace, and two hands shake in accord, forming a united, yet diverse forest in this dreamy acrylic painting fashioned in the surrealist style.

"Standing as a metaphor for the process of globalization and free movement of people, the greeting of hands is the unification of all continents of the globe, while the trees bridge the gap as the diverse population of the globe."

The artist says his painting interprets world peace as the only way for the relationship between God, humans and the environment to prosper — to be able to forgive each other and set aside common differences.