Making Proud, Indonesian Artists Are Lined Up To Decorate Basel City Square With Their Live Paintings

Eddie Hara (left) with Ambassador Muliaman D. Hadad (right). (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Bern)

JAKARTA - Holding a brush and paint, a man with glasses with white hair is busy painting a corner of Basel City, Switzerland, witnessed by the local community.

What makes me proud is that the painter is one of the proud artists of Indonesia, Eddie Hara, who has a myriad of works spread across various countries in the world and of course also in Indonesia.

For three days, 21-23 September 2021, Eddie painted live (live painting) in the Basel City square. His works are spread over 2.4 kilometers in the city.

Known in Asia and Europe for his unique works, Eddie has lived in Basel for more than 20 years. Not surprisingly, he was able to get support and sponsorship for this activity from Ramstein Optik, one of the legendary opticians in Switzerland that has been around since 1899.

"There is an element of surrealism, yes, because my work also tells a bit of a fantasy element," Eddie explained in a statement issued by the Indonesian Embassy in Bern through the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After studying art at the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta and Akademie voor Beeldende Kunst Enschede (AKI), the Netherlands, Eddie has successfully held various solo and group painting exhibitions in Cuba, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, China, the United States of America. , Singapore and Switzerland.

Eddie Hara painting in the City of Basel, Switzerland. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Bern)

His contemporary works have been displayed in various well-known international galleries, such as the Singapore Art Museum, Museum der Kulturen Basel, as well as private foundations, companies and galleries in Indonesia.

"Mr Eddie Hara is a well-known artist in Indonesia, he is the pride of Indonesia, thank you for accepting his work in the hearts of the Swiss people," said the Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Muliaman D. Hadad.

In total there are 55 works of Eddi's colorful paintings and fictional characters on display throughout the city of Basel. Starting from Aeschenplatz, Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz, over the Mittlere bridge continue until Claraplatz and end at Messe Basel. Meanwhile, for smaller works, they are displayed in the Ramstein Optics display case.