JatimVoice.com — The Prabangkara Gallery in Surabaya became a portal to Kediri’s soul during the "Nyambung Roso" ("Connecting Sensibilities") exhibition, part of the 2025 Painting Art Week. Among the 15 artists showcasing diverse works, one name stood out for his quiet intensity: Ali Shodiqin, a Kediri-born painter who traded vibrant oils for the stark poetry of black-and-white Chinese ink.
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| source: suarajatimpost |
Born in 1971, Ali’s love for art began in childhood and led him to study Fine Arts at Malang State University (then IKIP Malang). For decades, he worked conventionally with oils—until five years ago, when he embraced the unforgiving discipline of Chinese ink.
"It’s harder. Without color, every stroke must carry weight—light, shadow, composition. But that’s where the magic lies," said Ali at the exhibition’s opening. His style blends realism with intuitive touches: blurred silhouettes, symbolic details, and whispers of Kediri’s folklore.
The exhibition’s showstopper was Ali’s "Traces of My Hometown" series, featuring the mythical Totok Kerot statue from northern Kediri. The artwork depicts the Javanese legend of a greedy Blitar princess cursed into stone after being rejected by King Joyoboyo. Ali handwrote the tale beneath the painting, merging visual and oral tradition.
"Every place has its myths, and every myth has a lesson. I want viewers to read the art, not just see it," he explained.
Though Ali has held two solo exhibitions in Kediri, Nyambung Roso marked his Surabaya debut—a chance to spotlight his city’s overlooked creativity. "Kediri is small but rich with stories. We’re here, and we have something to say," he asserted. His next solo show is set for June 2025 at Surabaya’s Merah Putih Gallery.
For Ali, art is neither fame nor commerce, but a spiritual practice: "I don’t know where this path leads. I paint with gratitude, and let the work speak for itself."
Ali’s journey mirrors a growing movement of regional artists reclaiming cultural narratives through contemporary forms—proving that great art doesn’t only come from big cities.