Bali 41 Balinese colors, Auke Sonnega

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His style is fresh and unique, clearly influenced by his designer training and background. It is

very influenced by Art Deco and often graphic, however, his larger canvases often transcend

these limitations and can even be thought to have a mystical impact. In 1951, his artwork

changed after he experienced spiritual visions brought on by conversations with his friend

Husein Rofe. The change in Sonnega's inner life led to a heightened emotional awareness that

is especially present in the paintings he created between 1954 and 1957.

He also made many portraits, usually of doe eyed young men (he was in the words of a long

time Ubud expatriate euphemism a member of the "club"). These are very stylized and use a

bright palate with strong outlining of his subjects. Known locally as ‘The Group’, artists such as

Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet and Auke Sonnega were to exist there for long periods, living a

thin line between acceptance and scandal. In the 1930s, Bali was known in gay circles as a

place tolerant to gay lifestyle and where a little money could buy a grand lifestyle…While

Balinese culture does not officially recognize gays as a separate lifestyle, they do recognize

that sexuality is fluid and manifests itself in many forms. This tolerance was historically evident

in the Indo Malay courts of Java. Sonnega, like Bonnet, stayed in Bali until 1957 when he was

forced to leave by the Indonesia authorities in the era of Confrontation. Agung Rai has a

significant collection of Sonnegas, though his best paintings are to be found in Jakarta in the

hands of private collectors and the Dute Fine Arts Foundation.

Auke Cornelis Sonnega (1910-1963) was a Dutch artist who worked in

the former Dutch East Indies, Indonesia.

After working as a textile designer in Batavia, Auke Sonnega first came

to Bali in 1935 where he initially wrote newspaper travel stories. After

World War II he moved to Ubud, and took over the former studio of

Rudolf Bonnet in Puri Kaleran and dedicated himself solely to painting.

His painting style at that point showed the influence of Art Deco, and

often had a mystical quality.

Auke Cornelis Sonnega (1910-1963)

Loving balinese couple

Balinese Woman

Portrait of Made Sudjana

Portrait of a Balinese boyPortrait of a Balinese man, 1956

Two Young Balinese Girls with Flowers in their hair

Balinese beauty,

Christie's,Hong Kong

Balinese Boy in Sarong

Balinese young men, 1957

De fluitspeler: by the pond

The glory of I. Tandu

Procession in Bali.

Activities along the

River.

Mystical Bali

Portrait of I Wajan Parsa Young Balinese boy

The Kebyar Dancer, A Portrait of I Wayan Rindi

Sampih in Kebyar, 1949

Portrait of a Young Boy Portrait of Jan Deux Madi

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Balinese Woman

Balinese vrouw

Ceremonie te Bali

Figure composition with women from Bali

Bali, Bali

Bali life

Christie's,Hong Kong

Between dream and reality,Christie's,Hong Kong

A Balinese boy with a sun hat

Portrait of a young Indonesian man

A Balinese boy with a sun hat Ni Made Suka

Balinese dance

Christie's,Amsterdam

Balinese dance

Sotheby's, Singapore

Land of my dreams

Enchanting Tropics (1940)

Djoged in my garden

Mystic Gamelan

Handuk merah jambu

Balinesiska, 1955

Dancer in a Balinese landscape Woman with banten

Balinese Girl

Balisch hoogtij (Rampant Bali)

Text & pictures: Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanu

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Sound: Gus Teja - Galang Bulan (The Full Moon)