MAHARANI is Ketut Rani Astuti's favorite nickname (72). A slender, tall woman around 160 That centimeter is Ni Rondji's sister, the wife of the artist Antonio Blanco. The meeting with Maharani whom I called Tante Rani was not something that was planned.
In year 2018, an old friend and his wife named Aurea Rini invited me to visit The Blanco Renaissance Museum. This is the museum that Antonio founded. Over there, Rini introduced me to Antonio's son, Mario White.
The two of them then accompanied us on a tour of the museum to see the paintings by the romantic-expressive painting maestro. After touring more than half of the museum, we arrived at a painting. The painting caught my attention because it had a large size. Even, bigger than the Michael Jackson painting on display in another room.
The large painting shows a slender female dancer. To me, Rini also told me that the model in the painting was her mother, Maharani. Make me, Rini's words sounded so beautiful and pleasant. And this is an opportunity for me to be able to meet the model in person. Moreover, Antonio not only once made Tante Rani the object of his painting, but many times.
I believe, not everyone has the opportunity to know and meet directly with Antonio's painting model. Then, before returning to Jakarta, I also took the time to visit Tante Rani's house.
Uncovering Antonio's Painting Style
Just like Rini, the woman was very friendly. I was greeted with a variety of foods, typical Balinese mango fruit and durian. After eating the various dishes served, we started talking. One thing I want to know is how Antonio's style is when painting Tante Rani.
From Tante Rani I came to know Antonio's style when painting. All painting models are not allowed to move. Antonio has an agile hand movement. When painting, not just his fingers and hands moving fast. His eyes also moved. With that agility, Antonio can create beautiful paintings in less than 10 minute.
Aunt Rani seems to be happy to tell stories. It's not just Antonio's painting style that he shares. From him I came to know why the maestro chose him as a painting model. Apparently, in the past most Balinese only wanted to be painted by their family members. Reason, there is a myth that says their appearance will disappear when painted by painters who are not family members.
The family member that Antonio painted was not only Aunt Rani. Father-in-law, brother-in-law named Mandri and Ringkih, as well as her children and grandchildren she often models. Antonio has 4 child, namely Cempaka, Mario, Orchids and the Supreme Goddess.
Of the four, Cempaka and Mario are often the objects of his paintings. Artists who passed away on 10 December 1999 it also has a sixth sense. When the Supreme Goddess was pregnant, the artist is able to paint the face of the fetus in the womb of the princess. After the Supreme Goddess gave birth, The baby's face was exactly the same as the face in the father's painting.
Tante Rani's memory about Antonio's sixth sense ability was the closing of our conversation that day. I also couldn't talk to him for too long because I had to immediately go to the airport to return to Jakarta.
