Born into a Javanese noble family in 1928, the student Abdul Aziz became a revolutionary fighter against the Dutch, then going on to win a scholarship to study in Rome, Italy in 1959. Six years and two diplomas later he returned to Indonesia and settled in Bali.

In his studio in the globally-famous art village of Ubud, he created some of the most beautiful and famous works of art, (paintings, sculptures, and sketches), ever to come out of South-East Asia.

However, he was also a dedicated and talented musician who spent his final years proving to the world that an Indonesian could make a violin to challenge Stradivarius.

Technically, the paintings of Abdul Aziz exhibit remarkable virtuosity, due to his fascination with and mastery of ‘trompe l’oeil’ – the use of the frame to create a three-dimensional illusion, so that his subjects appear to come forward out of the frame.

This technique, combined with his appreciation of chiaroscuro and human anatomy, and his appreciation of the Balinese people, particularly women, have created some of the most impressive and enduring images of Asia ever.

Never one to strive for wealth or fame, Abdul Aziz only painted when inspired, and his output over his lifetime was comparatively small if compared to many prolific artists, hence the great demand for his works by knowledgeable collectors and by international auction houses.

The only public collection of works by Abdul Aziz is the Neka Art Museum in Ubud, where art lovers flock to see “Mutual Attraction” and other wonderful paintings.