BIS students learn from local steel artist in educational exhibition

Adrian Thirkell, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

When International Baccalaureate (IB) student George Speirs of the British International School (BIS) first saw the artwork of Fadil Gudadi, it was just a glimpse from the car as he passed Fadil's workshop on Jl. Antasari in Kemang, South Jakarta.

But the extraordinary images of motifs sliced into steel stayed in his mind, and weeks later he sought Fadil out.

From that initial meeting came the exhibition "FEELSTEEL", now running at BIS in Bintaro, Tangerang, the first ever "educational exhibition" of Fadil's works.

"Pak Fadil is here every day interacting with pupils from both primary and secondary (schools)," said Speirs.

Speirs attended an artist's workshop led by Fadil, during which he and his peers learned how the artist conveys his ideas using sheet metal, then lets the sheet weather -- or rust -- so it assumes its remarkable pigmentation.

Children as young as five and as old as 17 had a chance this week to stroll across the lawn from their classrooms to the BIS World Theatre and learn about how a material as resistant as steel can be coaxed into such tactile, delicate and expressive works of art that depict motifs from nature, such as leaves and shells.

"The dried leaves placed around the exhibition area focus the visitor's mind on Fadil's use of natural objects as a source of inspiration," Speirs said.

Fadil's work also frequently reveals his Javanese cultural roots, such as in his representation of wayang kulit (leather-made shadow puppets).

"Students can make use of the introductory booklet and the interactive responses devised by students at BIS," Speirs said, adding that students have responded to Fadil's art in writing, sketching and even in mathematics, where the geometric shapes have led to mathematical interpretations.

The exhibition, which was scheduled to close Nov. 30, has been extended to run until Sunday, Dec. 2, when the school will hold its annual Christmas fair.

A specially commissioned piece by Fadil will be installed in the school's planned new library.

"I've never been an artist in residence at a school before," said Fadil. "But the children's questions have led me to think through more precisely about how an artist can also be a teacher."

The "FEELSTEEL" exhibition is part of BIS' Creativity Action Service program, an IB prerequisite, in which students engage in creative ways with the local community.

(*) Above Picture: STEEL SHELL: International baccalaureate student at British International School (BIS), Christy Hancock, poses with "Siput" (snail) by Fadil Gudadi. The sinuous form is extrapolated on a sheet of metal in the BIS steel art exhibition piece. JP/Adrian Thirkell