Ponco Setyohadi

Ponco grew up with paper and crayon, and started to enjoy working with oil paint when he was in high school. He felt that he needed to know more about this world so he made up his mind and joined the Institute of Teacher Education and Educational Sciences in Malang to study art.nnFrom East Java, he swung over to Bali, a place he has called home for over two decades. Ponco started working in the fashion industry between his art activities, continuously painting and producing a lot of works that instantly became international collector’s items. Since then, he was known as a painter for collectors and expatriates.nnBali has influenced his paintings, from themes to its message, from culture, religion and custom to its natural beauty. Ponco had the opportunity to discover the world by traveling to Europe, he also learned how art has been held high and exalted in some countries. It was his journey through Southeast Asia and China that also enriched and inspired him in so many levels.nnHis latest collection of paintings called “Poleng” shows his exploration of philosophical and religious interpretations of black and white checkered fabric. He is currently among the many artists exhibiting at Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana for the exhibition titled “Rendezvous: An Artistic Odyssey”, putting abstract realism on display to be enjoyed by Bali’s art lovers.nnBy : Nining for The Beat Magazine