R Sumantri Sold at Auction Prices

R SUMANTRI (b. 1968) KESAYANGAN, c. 1990s, Oil on canvas

Rendered in stunning photorealism, R. Sumantri demonstrates his mastery with this depiction of a dog. With a shoe in its mouth, the dog seems eager for a response from its master. From the fur of the dog, to the textures of the shoe and sofa just out of shot, everything is recreated in exquisite detail. Born to a family of artists, R. Sumantri’s gift for the arts was recognised since he was only four years old. He got his start as a movie poster designer - back in the days when printing technology was not available, artists were often commissioned to paint movie posters and banners for cinemas. Surprisingly, limitation in the materials given did not seem to bother the young man; instead it established R. Sumantri as an artist with absolute mastery of colours. In 1987, he won First Prize in the Solo Health Poster Competition. From 1991 to 1996, R. Sumantri worked as a Batik designer at the famous Batik Semar in Solo; in 1997, he won First Prize in the Batik Design Competition for all Solo.