Between Chaos and Control

Bahrull Marta: Abstract portraits/figures are recurring themes in my work. I like exploring the space between control and chaos, light and darkness. These come naturally like how my creative process evolved, where forms are on the edge of appearing or disappearing.

For my personal work, it’s mostly intuitive. I don’t usually start with a good concept, whether digitally or traditionally. I let the creative process guide me, get my hands dirty with paints, charcoal. I just want to create something, feel the movement on the surface. Over time a philosophy has formed to trust imperfection, and letting the work reveal meaning rather than forcing it. Even so, my works often stay within darker-toned portraits or muted landscapes.

Can’t remember exactly, of course it changed a lot since the beginning. Commissioned and personal projects also affect the way I see my works. From digital art to mixed media artwork, my current approach developed gradually as I became more confident to remove the expectations and started focusing on the process. I also like to work fast without overthinking, or expectations for the results. It’s so tricky and needs several attempts. For example, when I was working with an oil monotype, it was really quick and chaotic on the table. It’s like an urge to release something from my mind onto the surface.

My process usually starts with a loose idea or feeling, followed by experimentation, drawing in charcoal, acrylics. I refine as I go rather than planning everything upfront for personal artwork, in this case I like to be spontaneous. I usually begin with traditional media on paper, often in small formats such as A4 or A3 size. The process may start with pencil sketches or direct painting using ink or acrylic, but it is not limited to those materials, I often use whatever is available on my table, such as charcoal, crayons, oils, or spray paint.
Once I feel the work has reached a certain stage, I may leave it as it is, or, if necessary, continue to the next step by scanning the painting into a digital format. From there, I use software such as Photoshop and sometimes Procreate for further image processing and development.
It‘s a quick process to finish a painting, sometimes around 1-2 hours. A monotype work sometimes [takes] less than 15 minutes. The timeline is so varied, some pieces can take days or a couple months too, I can’t tell exactly, as long as I enjoy creating them.
I do use references and image composition but not so often. Mostly I use my portrait as a model or images from the internet. It always depends on the current state of mind and the request if it’s a commissioned work.

It creates a strong contrast, which I’m naturally drawn to. Also sometimes I use black to cover a piece which I don’t like and rework from there, and start a new life for the painting.

A lot of mixes of visual, music, and artists across different mediums. It can also come from something subtle like a “moment” or sudden sense of clarity that pushes me to start creating immediately.
There are several artists whose work I admire, ranging from painters and mixed-media artists to digital artists, such as David Lynch, Joachim Luetke, Nicola Samorì, Dave McKean, Seth Siro Anton, Mike Hrubovcak, Samuel Araya, Jesse Draxler, A. L. Crego, Mantissa, and many more.
I prefer to work in silence, [but] I’m mostly drawn to instrumental music, along with some death and black metal bands: Kuntari, Five the Hierophant, Russian Circles, Dead Can Dance.

I’ve exhibited and occasionally sold work through galleries, though not frequently, especially since the pandemic. I rarely work with galleries locally in Jakarta. I’ve been sending work overseas and prefer direct contact with collectors, focusing on personal projects and commissioned pieces like album covers for underground bands and labels.

I want to push further into 3D work and point cloud environments. I’ve started experimenting with software like Blender, but I still need more time and resources to explore it fully. I’m also interested in virtual reality painting-bringing my textures into a digital space. Beyond that, I just want the freedom to keep creating.

Nothing, I don’t think I would change anything.

I would love to invite some fellow artists across mediums to showcase and create something like an art week event: one big, shared space where each artist has their own program. An open studio format where the audience can experience the work more closely and directly.

To express myself beyond just making a living. I don’t know what to do besides art at the moment. Sometimes it is frustrating but also deeply fulfilling. Art for me is like the tool to survive in this phase of life.