'WATERMELON HAT FOR PALESTINIANS' - Mixed Medium on Canvas

Antonius’ paintings contain a high level of complexity that attract art critics’ attentions. Originated from Chinese parents, Antonius was born in middle of Java, Indonesia. Figures of the Wayang puppet shows and patterns of the batik designs, as well as human figures he observes in daily life provide huge source of images reproduced on his paintings in a way that the original meanings of these cultural elements no longer exist; instead such folkloric emblems, mostly appear as masks, turn into just visual symbols arranged in collages, mosaic and cubism-like patterns which were also read by art critics as a representation of modernity and abstraction. One can also identify that “eye” lurks everywhere in his paintings where according to Antonius, “they are the ultimate presence of truth” he’s depicting, which shows his internal wish for observing people and life.

With his background influenced both by east and west cultures, Antonius’ paintings are showing such tensions as well as the reconciliation between them. They are also complex or even chaotic rendering of unstable beings or figures that were drawn by interlocking lines and arranged in multiplicity of perspective, which may reflect the state of his mind as a result of his rich life experiences ranging from observing humanity in daily life to having critical attitudes of social phenomena based on both his east and west cultural exposures.

Antonius is using mainly mix media of paper, rag & jute in his paintings. And nature plays a main role in his use of colour where earthy or yellow tone are commonly seen in his artworks. As Antonius likes observing people, “people” becomes the main subject of his paintings. During the pandemic in 2022, while maintaining his basic styles, he further created a series of individual human figures in vivid white colour to symbolize human’s innocence, honesty and authenticity.