REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Betawi was able to make paintings of high artistic value in the eyes of the world. Although it was not much heard, in fact Betawi art has long recognized by the world despite its existence was difficult to develop in its own country.
Maestro and a pioneer of Betawi painting, Sarnadi Adam said, Europe was very appreciate Betawi painting. It was proved by many invitations of painting festival that invited him to exhibit Betawi paintings in European countries.
"Dutch, French, and lastly I went to Sweden on yesterday, the countries like US and Argentina also had been an exhibition site of Betawi paintings, they were all amazed at the authenticity of Betawi painting," said Sarnadi when talking with ROL in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23.
Sarnadi said, even in the Netherlands he already has a permanent exhibition site to showcase his paintings. He said, in Den Haag city, Netherlands, at least once on two years the exhibition of Betawi painting always routinely held.
"I saw the closeness of betawi with Netherlands established almost 350 years made people there like to recall their memories every time they saw Betawi painting," he said.
A 58 years old man added that love of European countries to Betawi paintings because of the value of art in the paintings. He said, the objects in the Betawi paintings which focus on local arts became the main attraction.
"The Europeans can look at the paintings and folk art visualization that exist in Indonesia, so they became to like it," said the painter who has been active in the art world since 1982.