Rudini artistic journey is documented in a little cottage near the mosque in Sembalun Bumbung, East Lombok, beneath Mount Rinjani. His creativity is displayed in this simple home, which has a painting studio, bedroom, and living room.
Bayf—Artistic Alias of Rudini
Locals call this 31-year-old artist Bayf, but his real name is Rudini. Bayf is synonymous with the artist who put his name on his works.
Darkness to Expression: A Stormy Path
Rudini’s upbringing was filled with terrible moments, flashes of agony, black clouds of depression, and freezing winds of loss that plunged his heart into despair. His greatest suffering came when his mother, summoned by time, left him amid darkness.
It’s no surprise that his paintings reflect his turbulent emotions. His painting is filled with darkness and light, each color a layer of suffering. Every stroke of his brush depicts an eternal war in wordless language.
A fine arts graduate? Answer: “No.” He didn’t leave high school. He learned to paint where? Since when? Who inspires him most?
“I never had formal art education, but I’ve always loved painting,” he explains.
Song of Practice: Daily Ritual
Rudini repeats the practice tune daily. Each dot, stroke, and practice advances mastery. This path never ends, and his love of art fuels him to improve.
His first childhood memory is a small hand doodling characters from “Journey to the West” or, in Indonesia, “Sun Go Kong.”
Survival Journey: Bali and Beyond
Rudini worked as a construction worker, sweeper, and bartender in Bali while chasing success. Any work that paid the bills was acceptable to him.
Brush and canvas, Rudini and art, intertwined like souls seeking each other. Despite his struggles for existence, his dream of painting never died.
Like the phrase, “Do it wholeheartedly or not at all,” Rudini’s long battle to choose a life path drove him to return to his roots. He returned to restore his dreams and announce his future as a famous painter.
Journey Beyond Borders: Global Recognition
Believe it or not, his art has reached Germany and Australia. “The paintings bought by German and Australian enthusiasts cost Rp3.5 million to Rp4 million each,” he explains.
Artistic Process of Rudini
Rudini begins with intense concentration, contemplating his painting’s theme and meaning. Only then does he pick up his brush and paint.
He holds the brush with emotion, sliding his fingers up and down until it meets his vision. Smooth brushstrokes on canvas.
A line, dot, or curve steadily forms, providing the foundation of his painting. When he draws, he takes in the subject’s details and gets creative.
Because painting takes hours or days, he occasionally stretches to straighten his spine or relieve aching joints.
He’s proud with the finished painting. A blank canvas becomes beautiful and meaningful. He views painting as a spiritual journey that expresses his thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
I feel free painting. My brushstrokes on the canvas may mask all burdens, anguish, and misery. It may be a soul’s calling, he says.
Conclusion
Rudini has made dozens of works. Admirers include young people, officials, and art collectors. Sembalun hangouts have his paintings on the walls.
A hotel in Lombok featured his painting “Material Freedom” at an exhibition, attracting local and international visitors. He felt honored to be recognized for his paintings.
In the artwork “Material Freedom,” a young man without a thread clenches his fists, stating he doesn’t need it. Rudini eyes are angry. His forehead lines show his dissatisfaction with the world. A society where everyone strives for fancy clothes and accessories, chasing unending dreams.