Baju Wijono’s nomadic early life is reflected in his complex visual references, from the elegance and grace of Chinese calligraphy to the dynamic power of expressionist abstractions. Layered spaces grow deep with often exuberant color, yet the mood is sometimes surprisingly somber. Paintings often begin or end in scrims of black, hiding and revealing the way veils do, letting us glimpse a different kind of beauty.
Buried in Wijono’s biomorphic images are the geometric remnants of mechanical devices, and his gestural brushstrokes trace complex paths with precision. Plant and body parts, identifiable flowers, and possible faces all emerge and become more or less dominant depending on the viewer. All demand to be seen and engaged.
—Susan Keiser, Founder, Garage Gallery