Sumedang –
Maybe that’s what Ucok Bastian felt when his painting was bought for Rp. 10 million by the Governor of West Java, Mochamad Ridwan Kamil or who is familiarly called Kang Emil.
The moment occurred when Governor Emil inaugurated the Sumedang Creative Center (GCC) Building, Monday (20/6/2022). Moment detikJabar tried to interview Ucok, his eyes immediately filled with tears.
Ucok said the photo painting was made when he was grieving over the tragedy that befell Kang Emil’s family.
“The painting was made when I was saddened by the news of the death of his son Kang Emil, namely Eril who was swept away in the river,” he said.
He didn’t even think that his painting entitled “Waiting for Kang Emil” would be bought at a high price. That was also the reason why he had mixed feelings when Kang Emil bought the painting.
“On the one hand I am sad to remember the moment when I made the painting, but on the other hand I am also proud that my painting was bought by the governor,” he said.
Ucok is one of the painters in Sumedang who is now 63 years old. The world of painting has been practiced since childhood to become his profession now.
Ucok also admitted that as long as he was a painter, this was the first time his paintings were sold at high prices.
“This is the first time that my painting has been sold at a high price. For decades as a painter, usually the most valued is 500 thousand to one million,” he said.
Ucok said that he would use the money from selling his paintings to meet his children’s school needs.
“I will use this money for children’s school needs,” he said.
After the inauguration procession, Kang Emil accompanied by the Regent of Sumedang, Dony Ahmad Munir, inspected all the facilities which happened to be having a painting exhibition. Unexpectedly, Kang Emil saw a painting showing himself with his wife and daughter sitting on the bank of the Aare river, Switzerland.
Kang Emil immediately bought the painting which he thought had its own meaning.
“Incidentally, there is one of my paintings in the Aare River whose photo went viral, I bought it earlier but I won’t take it now so that it will be exhibited first and then I will take it for my personal collection,” he said.
(yum/yum)
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