Reflecting a childhood of loss play time
Like most student at the Visual Communication Department of ISI Yogyakarta, Oky Rey Montha or better known as Kyre by his peers, done the work assign by his professor. He then submitted the work that he had made with all his heart and effort.
But what happened when he submitted the work to his professor? “You better put this outside. This work really doesn’t belong here. I think it will suits you better if you went to study there, said the professor while pointing to the Pure Art department,” said Kyre about his work while he was completing his studies.
And it’s not about that particular work that didn’t suit what he was studying. The young man born in January 3, 1986 have tried to work in the design world, by making illustrations and book covers for several publishers. But in Kyre’s opinion the relationship between a graphic designer and those with capital often ended up in a cliché: simply to fulfill an order.
For a while he was torn apart because he was in the design world while his heart was actually in the pure arts. This something that he realized and forced him to came up with a decision. Although up until now he was still studying in Visual Communications Design department, since the fourth semester he decided to not work with the typical pattern taught in the department. Instead he worked with the pure art style that gives a creator an infinite freedom.
The first step of Kyre’s decision can be seen in his work Personal Thinking #1 and Personal Thinking #2 both have the dimension of 180x170cm. In Personal Thinking #1 for example, he depicted himself strapped to a chair while a red carpet and slippers is in front of him, as though waiting for him. “What’s so hard about taking the first step,” he said about the painting. The funny thing was he was so driven to make paintings yet he didn’t have the money. The situation forced him to borrow canvases from his friends. “I’m lucky some of my friends were willing to lend me canvases,” said he.
The canvases became some sort of icon of history for Kyre, and he’s really eager to track down the two works. The thing is, when they were exhibited int “Expo Signs” an event held to commemorate the anniversary of ISI Yogyakarta, both of the work was bought by collectors. “I really want to buy them again because it marked the beginning of my journey, and it was a process full of mystery. Unfortunately, until this moment I haven’t have the chance to meet the collector,” said he.
For the young man who pioneered the visual community called Tempat Kecink (TK—literally means a place to piss) every work is his personal note. If he felt content to pour out whatever he was feeling and his ideas on canvas, one phase of process was completed. “ I never think what will become of my work, whether it will be sold or not. Maybe I disregard the market for a bit, but that’s just how it is, if I made something to comply to the market, then that means I am back to being a mere designer,” said he smiling.
Although he does not think too much about the market, it is really friendly to Kyre. In the beginning of April when he held an exhibition title “Evorah” (Evil of Rabbit Head) 13 of his work was sold out, bought by collectors.
“Maybe Kyre’s work was unique. With its imaginative characters, which was almost always represent him and his girlfriend, “Evorah” has shaped a fictional glamour world, with bright colors, but also give a mysterious allure, depression and gloom.
The work in “Evorah” become a reflection of Kyre’s childhood, at the time he was seldom had the time to play. The rigid rule of the family and his status as the first child in the family made his days filled with chores and to take care of his siblings, even when he was in junior high, cooking dishes had become his routine duty.
“It was in the past. I just want to take note of that world of mine. I also plan to hold a solo exhibition,” said he.
No comments:
Post a Comment