Preserving reverse glass painting

Written by Rahma Yulita | Read in Indonesian

For centuries, the art of painting around the world spans across various media; all convey messages through visuals. One of them is glass, in what is known as reverse glass painting. In the modern era, this branch of art may not be something that attracts attention, discussion, or even interest.

How so? If we look at the sophistication of technology, painting on other media seems easier than on glass. This is one of the reasons why the number of reverse glass painting artists and enthusiasts is dwindling, to the point of becoming scarce.

However, efforts to introduce the art of reverse glass painting to the younger generation is not over. Recently, two art curators Chabib Duta Hapsoro and Hermawan Tamzil organised a reverse glass painting exhibition so that art enthusiasts could enjoy various works of reverse glass painting.

Chabib Duta Hapsoro at the exhibition. Credit: Rahma Yulita

"Cerita Kaca: Perjalanan Seni Lukis Kaca di Indonesia" (Story of Glass: The Journey of Reverse Glass Painting in Indonesia) held at Dia.lo.gue Artspace told the history of reverse glass painting, from its heyday to being reduced to “antiques”, displaying various reverse glass painting works by local and international artists.

Chabib said the exhibition was an effort to preserve the ailing branch of art. Moreover, Hermawan is a collector of reverse glass painting.

"I’m interested because Mr. Hermawan Tanzil, the curator and owner of this space [Dia.lo.gue Artspace], is also a collector of reverse glass painting. He has a mission to find a way to popularise the art of reverse glass painting among young people; that’s why in this exhibition there are many approaches that we take to make it more interesting for young people."

“Antiques” that have lost their lustre

Commenting about the development of reverse glass painting in Indonesia, Chabib bluntly said, "It is not satisfactory."

It was not an indiscriminate statement, however, as it honestly described how reverse glass painting has become an almost forgotten branch of art with fewer and fewer artists and enthusiasts.

Nowadays, reverse glass painting works can only be found in antique shops. "From my observation, the number of reverse glass painters is stagnant–even tends to decline–because not many people are interested in painting on glass," he added.

Reverse glass painting is different from contemporary art, which infrastructure is more established from a commercial perspective and is a regular showing in museums–allowing more exposure to the public.

If we look back, reverse glass painting thrived and was highly sought after from the ‘70s to the ‘90s, when many of the upper middle class collected reverse glass paintings.

Now though, the popularity of reverse glass painting is waning as there is practically no new enthusiast. The consequence is that the regeneration of artists is falling farther and farther behind other branches.

From a work of art to a traditional culture

Chabib explained that reverse glass painting can be classified as a traditional art–practised by the middle to lower classes. “The upper middle class usually will not talk about reverse glass painting. They tend to favour contemporary art. This is one of the reasons why the regeneration of reverse glass painting artists in Indonesia is stalling and declining."

Moreover, today's society faces different challenges than in the past. That was why instead of the highly difficult, hard to sell reverse glass painting, many artists chose other branches of art that are more profitable.

Other reasons are closely related to geographical, cultural and family factors. The regions that consistently produce reverse glass painting works and regenerate their artists are Cirebon and Bali.

In these two areas, reverse glass painting is a family tradition. Chabib said, "Why has this art become a kind of family tradition? Because the technique is difficult, where the sequence of paint application is reversed, and it takes time to master it.”

Most reverse glass painting artists in Cirebon and Bali see this art as a tradition, so it has to be practised, passed down and preserved. Other regions do not have a strong reverse glass painting tradition. "So, if there are social or whatever changes, other cities will find it easier to abandon this [reverse glass painting] practice compared to those who have made it a tradition."

Chabib hoped that exhibitions such as "Cerita Kaca: Perjalanan Seni Lukis Kaca di Indonesia" will expand the reverse glass painting audience and allow more people to delve deeper into the branch of art.

"If many people discuss it, write about it, or make it a research topic, the art of glass painting will become a scientific production that has a big impact," he concluded.