“I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full”

- Arthur Ashe -

For me, work of ar t is a presentat ion form to communicate the ideas to other peoples aesthet ica l ly . A va lue of ar t is yet perfect ly ga in i f there ’s no in teract ion between audiences and an artwork. I be l ieve the va lue of an artwork wi l l e levate i f there ’s contact between the or ig in ar t is t idea in h is work against the audience percept ions.

Meanwhi le , the b l issfu lness of creat ing work of ar t is on ly be long to the re lated art is t . Pass ions, Emot ions, In tu i t ion adventures, widespread of imaginat ion c lusters upon a creat ive process when an artwork is ongoing… i t ’s happen pr ivate ly, and in a deep int imacy of an art is t mind and sou l .

I love to pa int , draw, and v isua l ize whatever comes to my heart and mind. Somet imes, I fee l the range is too wide. Too many wishes to take up everyth ing. E i ther i t ’s came from wi th in me or outs ide.

i

So that ’s why I have so many var ious themat ic and sty les . Trad i t iona l , d ig i ta l , Graph ic des ign, i l lust rat ion, f ine ar t , etc . I thought , i t may even sporad ic, i r regu lar , and chaos. But I l i ve i t . I l i ve th is t rans i t ion phase as a “Passages” of my art and l i fe .

Th is t ime, co inc ide wi th the ce lebrat ion our be loved mother earth Indones ia independence day, f ina l ly I make up my mind to ass ign a theme for th is exh ib i t ion . I hope th is can ref lected my interna l issues and i t ’s re lat ion to the soc ia l and po l i t ica l s i tuat ion around us. Moreover, af ter we pass the most mesmer iz ing e lect ion a long our po l i t ica l h is tory . Aren’ t we are in the midd le of a t rans i t ion? a process to mov ing t rough pass ing a hard and confus ing s i tuat ions. I hope we take i t as examinat ions. I hope wi th th is “Passages” , we wi l l t ra ined

become a bet ter humans k ind.

Denpasar, August 11 th, 2014Ar i f Baht iar

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PLATES1

“Lady Of The Sky” | Oil on Canvas | 75 cm x 125 cm

2

“Evanescent II”Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

90 cm X 120 cm

“The Present”Oil, Acrylic, Aerosol on Canvas

70 cm X 90 cm

“Latitude” | Oil on Canvas | 75 cm x 125 cm

5

“Blue Mask”Oil on Canvas

70 cm X 90 cm

“Juwita”Oil on Canvas

70 cm X 90 cm

“A Family” | Watercolors and Ink On Paper | 24.3 cm x 43.5 cm

8

“Evanescent II”Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

90 cm X 120 cm

“Mindscape”Watercolors and Ink On Paper

29 cm x 42 cm

*This artwork is a reinterpretation of Auguste Rodin's “The Thinker”

“A Prince”Watercolors and Ink On Paper

42 cm x 30 cm

“Seven Protocols” | Watercolors and Ink On Paper | 24.3 cm x 43.5

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“Nisbi II” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm

“Nisbi I” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm

13

“Imperium” Graphite On Paper 29.7 cm x 42 cm

“Corrupted Codex” Oil and Acrylic on

Canvas140 cm x 140 cm

Biography

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Arif Bahtiar was born in Ciamis, West Java. In July 2000 he moved to Bandung and studied at Padjadjaran University

graduating from a Bachelor of Traditional Sudanese Literature in 2007. He active to attend art events in several universities

in Bandung during his college activities. He have been exploring art experiences and creativity with many media; Body

Painting, Air Brush, Graffiti and Graphic Design, Illustration, Sculpture and Paintings.

In late of 2007 he decided to moved to Bali. His investigation of ideas is pursued through his work of art. He do a lot of

experiments with medium and techniques, the harmonious graduated form, light and colors that could be achieved in

his works. He able to evolve his art works. He create, reconstructs, reform and deconstruct the ideas through his own

perspective of aesthetics.

So lo Exh ib i t ion: 2014 - “The Passages” Bledog Art Space, Ubud, Bali

Se lected Group Exh ib i t ion:2013 - “Kuta Art Chromatic” Kuta, Bali.

2013 - “United Overseas Bank (UOB) Painting of The Year Indonesia” UOB Plaza, Jakarta.

2013 - “Bali ACT” Urban Sketchers Bali 1st Anniversary, Group Exhibition. Ubud, Bali.

2013 - “UWRF: Art Makers” Group Exposition. Ubud, Bali.

2013 - “Architect Under Big 3” Group Exposition. Popo Danes Gallery /Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar, Bali.

2011 - “For Dog’s Sake” Group exhibition. NAKA contemporary Art Gallery, Seminyak, Bali.

2011 - “iDRAW” A Group Drawing Exhibition, JP’s (alternative space) Seminyak, Bali - Indonesia.

2009 - “The Gradation” Group Exhibition, Terasseni Gallery, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

2008 - “Art Action” Group Exhibition, Kuta Galeria, Bali, Indonesia.

2005 - “DJAMU TJAP IKIP” Group Exhibition, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

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Awards & Recogni t ions:2013 - Finalist “United Overseas Bank (UOB) Painting of The Year Indonesia” UOB Plaza, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2008 - Finalist “Body Painting Competition”, HARD ROCK Cafe, Bali, Indonesia.

2007 - 2nd Winner Awarded of “MURAL FOR MY CAMPUS” Competition Padjadjaran University, Bandung,

2005 - Winner 0f “ART AGAINST AIDS” Mural Competition, Bandung, West Java.

Press & Publ icat ions:2013 - Selected Work to published in International Annual Book “IMAGINE THE IMAGINATION: New Vision of

Surrealism” Published in Poznan, Poland.

2013 - Selected Work to published in “LEXICON FANTASTIC ARTISTS” book (German Edition), Published in

Vienna, Austria.

2007 - 2014 - Published in various local, and international media.

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www.ar i fbaht iar .com

www.latt i tude-zero.com

Thanks to:

Special thanks to my lovely wife Sammie Bahtiar. Thank you for making life such a splendid adventures.

Thank you to all my friends, Pak Hartono and Bledog artspace staffs who has been supports this event as well.

This catalogue was published as a supplement to the exhibition “The Passages” by Arif Bahtiar

at Bledog Artspace, Ubud, Bali, August 17 - 9 September 2014

Published by Bledog Artspace 2014Jl. Raya Goa Gajah, Teges Kangin, Peliatan-Ubud

T. +62 361 978737

Copyright Arif bahtiar 2014All rights reserved. No parts of this publication maybe reproduce or transmitted

in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system,

without prior permission in writing from the publisher and related artist.

“The Passages” is organized by cooperation Arif Bahtiar and Bledog Artspace.18

http://www.arifbahtiar.com/