Deni Je, A Pioneer of RadicArt from Jogja
By: Dr. Ahmad Sastra
(A Philosophy Lecturer)
Deni Je, a painter from Yogyakarta, for me, always gives enlightenment about esthetic dimension of fine artworks. Even though I have not ever met him personally, I always enjoy each his work, mainly in Painting Explorer Channel. In each his artworks, the painter whose full name is Deni Junaedi not only emphasize on the connection between subject and object, but also on value prerequisites.
Value dimension, in the study of philosophy is called axiology. There are 3 levels in the construction of philosophical thoughts; ontology, epistemology, and axiology. These philosophical expressions can be materialized into some kind of works, including arts. Arts and artists actually do not have independent values. Even if there is an artist who wants to be fully independent, he actually has been being depended on the independent value itself.
In my view, Deni Je is not just any artists. The reason is that his artworks (paintings) all the time are based on fundamental-thinking foundation. It is not exaggerating if I say that Deni Je is a pioneer artist of Contemporary RadicArt. RadicArt consists of two words: radic means radical and art means arts. Deni Je’s artworks are not just paintings with any meaning, but beginning with deep thinking preceding his work.
Even Deni Je often discussed about truth in his artworks, which the word truth is alien among artists. In the study of philosophy, truth comes from a truth. Ontologically, truth exits. Epistemologically, truth must come from truth source. Axiologically, truth will cause to a work that is true and awareness toward the truth.
The westerners themselves had experienced pessimism to the truth. Heidegger, in “The End of Philosophy”, describes ‘the end of philosophy’ does not mean there is not more philosophy, but philosophy in metaphysical pathway. The end of metaphysics begins when ontological claim as real-world foundation enduring degradation till the real-world does not need again its dependency toward itself definition on the truth models – logos, eidos, substance, God essence – but toward the truth on the world itself.
Metaphysics ends not due to its completion but exhaustion. By exhaustion of metaphysic fuel, the process of discontinuity on the metaphysic foundations takes place, thus the real-world awakes its reality formation on its being in the world itself, by its existence meaning which can be interpreted, not meanings which are provided by metaphysic sources. This is the death or ‘the end of philosophy’ according to Heidegger.
Michel Foucault sees ‘death’ in any discourse as a discontinuity. Foucault discusses about death of subject as the result of discontinuity of modernity discourse to other discourse that inside subject role of human becomes minimalist. The transition of human as the world supremacy to only users from any discourse, leads to human death in the definition of Descartes’s antrophomorfism that is replaced by conceptual human discourse formed inside and by discource.
While Deni Je is on the contrary, he has found metaphysical truth as an absolute truth that has become spirit in his artworks. When western philosophy has begun tiring upon their seeking to the existence of God, Deni Je has done ‘arts dialogue’ with his God. As an artist and a lecturer, he on the opposite always expresses the will of his Lord in every scratch on his canvas.
While still many artists adore liberalism as a god, Deni Je on the opposite had embarked on a journey (hegira) that brought him to a superrational awakening.
There are minimal four thinking models, natural, supernatural, rational and superrational. Natural thinking tends to be shallow because it is based only on empirical objects. While supernatural thinking tends to be absurd because it tries to grasp unseen objects outside logic. Rational thinking tends to be deep, even though it is often speculative. Due to rational thinking, philosophy is born. While superrasional thinking tends to be clear, because it combines logic and revelation.
In the view of fine arts, paintings born from natural thinking tend to paint any appearing objects, without contemplating much about epistemology and axiology. Fine arts born from supernatural tends to be mystic, even drawing unseen objects that its truth cannot be accountable. Paintings born from rational thinking tend to be critical over contemporary social problems, even so do give fundamental solution.
While paintings born from superrational thinking (clear) will combine subject, object, and art values. Not only is it about esthetic, but also prerequisites of meaning. The meaning of superrasional painting is dependent to God, ethically complying His Revelations. Anything that is prohibited by His Revelations, it may not be an object to be painted. Behind Deni Je’s paintings contains esthetics and ethics as well, even more, axiologically preserve dawah (missionary) values. It is what I meant the word RadicArt.
There is a ruh (soul) in every canvas scratch in Deni Je’ paintings which is meant a spiritual connection of subject and God. From here, born an incredible value in each Deni Je’s painting. Values that I can acquire from his painting are awakening, truth, revival and even Islamic civilization.
For me, Deni Je is qualified to be a RadicArt pioneer from Jogja that every painting scratch of forms and colors signifies a truth message of revelation. Besides, Deni Je paintings will grow awakening on the revival of Islamic civilization hat has been gone for long time. Deni Je is trying to find out again the Islamic civilization by using painting arts.
There! At 4th to 11 October 2020 in KHAT
Gallery, Yogyakarta, Deni Je will hold Solo Painting Exhibition entitled The
Sent Down Iron that will display paintings related to iron that is sent down by
Allah to the Earth surface. Some of the paintings have I seen and are very good
and inspiring. Feeling bad missing out his Exhibition. Because we will not only
be presented with esthetics of painting workarts, but also more with meanings
and values.
Great success on your solo painting
exhibition, Mas Deni Je, hope the works go wide to the world and also bring up
the world to glorious Islamic civilization.
(AhmadSastra,KotaHujan,08/09/20 : 09.00 WIB)
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