“Ibnu is Ibnu. That’s it. He is a sculptor, not a man who makes sculptures and he does not accept any sculpture orders or take orders to make sculptures. Ibnu sculpts himself,” said the long-white-haired man, who is usually called Ibnu, straightforwardly. Among his fellow artists, Ibnu Nurwanto has been ordained as a maestro in Indonesian sculpture. Without a shadow of a doubt, its consistency, dedication, and distinctive artistic exploration through the medium of wood for more than 50 years prove it. His name and works have journeyed far and wide from one sculpture exhibition to another across Indonesia. Nevertheless, he only wishes to be known as Ibnu the Sculptor.
Wood sculpture has been and will always be a medium to the stories he wants to tell. Stories of his love for life, pain, and the Creator. A charming story infused with a sense of movement. Mastering the techniques and comprehending the details of wood characteristics became the foundation for Ibnu to create distinctive and brilliant surrealist sculptures. He believes that every carved sculpture is not a mere coincidence.
“I have something to say. Maybe all my personal experiences can inspire others; to make them contemplate, to be wiser, to be more compassionate and ethical, as well as to be well-behaved,” he hoped. For Ibnu Nurwanto, creating a work of art is another way of breathing. Every day, he dredges up his potential and devotes his body to blowing his soul to his wooden sculptures. Getting older will never lessen his productivity. Ibnu believes that the true currency for producing art lies in honesty, intention, and passion. Age is just a number and so is talent; we can talk about it later.
For 61 minutes, Director Eriliando Erick invites the audience to follow the imprints of Ibnu Nurwanto’s work through his first feature-length documentary. Starting from the studio house by the river, where the melody of Ibnu’s wooden carving is never absent, living testimony from his closest relatives and friends, the exhibition hall of Balai Budaya Jakarta (Jakarta Cultural Center, ed) to Ibnu’s secret room with a Little Girl who had become a lantern in his darkest times. However, even at his lowest point, Ibnu survived, rose, and got back to work. Breathing.
“I’m not an artist. I’m a creator.”
Check out Ibnu’s journey, Sang Kayu (The Wood, ed), which looks firm yet so fragile, in Ibnu Nurwanto – The Wood which will screen and compete in Indonesia Feature-Length Competition FFD 2024. (Hesty N. Tyas) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Shafira Rahmasari)
Film Details
Ibnu Nurwanto – The Wood (Ibnu Nurwanto – Sang Kayu)
Eriliando Erick | 61 Min | 2024 | DKI Jakarta, Indonesia
In Competition for Indonesia Feature-Length
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 4 | 13:00 WIB | Militaire Societeit, TBY
Nov. 8 | 15:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
