Analysing Art with D.A.I.J.




On last Tuesday class, we learned about the four elements of analysis of art, which is describe, analyze, interpret and judge. However, as the assignment deadline are getting closer, my own procrastination has come back to haunt me. Because of that, I skipped an entry last week.

For this week's entry, I will attempt to compress the lessons I learned in both week into one post in the form of me attempting to use the four element of analysis to analyze one of my favourite painting in our central bank's gallery, which is Hoessein Enas's Nafkah (1987).


Describe
Nafkah is Malay for sustenance. Usually, the term "mencari nafkah" is used to mean earning a living and it is exactly what was depicted in this painting. A group of fishermen pushing their boat out to the sea to catch fishes, to earn a living. Although the specific location for this picture remain unknown, but the depiction still rings true for all the rural Malay fishing village. In the background to the left, there was another group of fisherman trying to do the same thing.

 Analyse
Firstly, in terms of aesthetic, the scene was beautifully captured. The fisherman with his red sarong in the center of the picture are the most eyecatching element of the whole photo. Then, the tracks on the beach guides your eyes to the fishing boat, and you see all the fisherman was trying their hardest to push the boat toward the sea while the peaceful blue sky on the top present a good contrast to the action happening on the beach.

Secondly, in terms of formalistic, the scene was depicted in a very realistic, lifelike art style. If we look at the painting from afar, it could easily be mistaken as a photo. Personally, I think this kind of art style is the most beautiful and it serves the scene well. Imagine if the scene was painted in a very abstract kind of art style, then the impact will certainly be diminished.

Interpret
Hoessein Enas himself was an immigrant, migrated from Java, Indonesia to Malaysia at the age of 23. So, these painting could very well be depicting a scene from his native home in Java, this is evidence by the red rag wrapped on the fisherman's head, which resembled a traditional Javanese clothing.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1c/be/b6/1cbeb60408aba5d962534734e999afc1.jpg 

Furthermore, it is unlikely that the scene depicted in this painting are portraying modern fisherman, because by the late 1980s, when this painting is created, there are already many technologies that can help made the fisherman's life easier. Furthermore, since Enas himself was born in 1924, it is possible that this is one of his early childhood memories.

For some reason, this painting puts me in a hopeful mood. We can see that the fisherman are actually working hard towards a better future, as symbolized by the light emanating from the morning sky, where the sun is rising. 

Judge
In my opinion, this painting is very successful because it managed to grab my attention, and presents the meaning in a very beautiful way. Maybe it's because of my personal taste, but I always prefer lifelike painting over those abstract one. 

This is my first time doing an analysis of an art work. Hopefully, you guys can correct me if you spot any mistake in my analysis. Thank you.

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