Kencut, who spent lockdown in Jakarta with the distressed uncertainty of not knowing when he might reunite with his family who lived 700km away in his native Bali, along with the news of rising Coronavirus infections, compelled him to seek refuge through the act of painting. He saw the practice as a form of meditation that allowed him to contemplate the mortality of others at a distance and eventually, his own as an imminent possibility. This is evident in the way that Kencut immerses himself in the tactile details of his paintings whether through painted strands of hair or folds of cloth.

Relief aside, Kencut’s artistic creations in FROM ME, TO YOU are also sesajen or offerings of gratitude for his blessings – good health after the reemergence from isolation, the rekindling embrace of family and friends and the birth of his first daughter. Born with Love, in which a liliputian button-eyed figure rests inside a flower, commemorates Kencut’s firstborn as a symbol of joy from reconnection, and a rebirth from fear and doubt.

The Coronavirus pandemic brought the world to an unprecedented halt in which Kencut was reminded that life on earth be it human, viral or otherwise, share not only a common DNA but also a common fate. Yet, in spite of our interconnectedness, he realised conversely, our inability to co-exist in harmony and take accountability for the ecological devastation we wreak.

A Thousand Stars

If social isolation prompted Kencut to reconnect with the human and other-than-human worlds, then this profound sense of oneness with all has paved the way to a deeper sense of spirituality. His paintings embody the mindfulness of meditating, praying, and giving thanks which provide much-needed clarity and guidance on how we might approach life with awareness, consideration for others, and hope. FROM ME, TO YOU is an invitation to share positive energy, trust in the innate wisdom of nature, and emanate joy through art, faith and love.

A Thousand Stars Series