Page 112 - Sidharta Auctioneer

DR. Hj. BRA Mooryati Soedibyo

by Jeihan Sukmantoro

Lot #477

DR. Hj. BRA Mooryati Soedibyo (1928-2024) was an important figure
in the Indonesian political and cultural scene. As a granddaughter of

Pakubuwana X, she received a traditional education at the court that
emphasised etiquette, mastering classical dance, karawitan, traditional
songs, Javanese literary language, Kawi script, batik, and other arts, as
well as knowing nutritious plants, concocting herbs and traditional
cosmetics from natural ingredients, She learned about herbal medicine
and traditional Javanese cosmetics from her grandmother. The tradi-
tional knowledge of herbal medicine and traditional Javanese
cosmetics preserved by the royal family was often considered to be
superior to that known by the common people and so, when Mooryati

Soedibyo founded the cosmetics company Mustika Ratu in 1975 it
became a huge success.

Soedibyo also served as a member of the Regional Representative
Council and as a member and vice chairperson of the People’s

Consultative Assembly (2004-2009). Soedibyo passed away in 2024,
at the age of 96.

Mooryati Soedibyo and Jeihan Sukmantoro were both descendants of

Pakubuwana X, although Jeihan was from outside the main lineage.
Therefore, Jeihan painted this piece in situ at the opening of an
exhibition at Pacific Place Jakarta, as a sign of respect.

Jeihan was best known for the black eyes in the figures in his paintings,

which initially was a result of his failure in painting eyes realistically.
Later, he realized that the black eyes served as a metaphor for his
viewers to always keep an open imagination about the things that could
not be attained by the physical reach of humans alone through the
open eye and to always look deeper and farther, like the black hole of
the universe.
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