In my final piece, I rework the well-known masterwork "War and Peace" by Hendra Gunawan. Gunawan rose to prominence in the Indonesian art scene thanks to his combination of genre painting and abstract forms. Born in Bandung, West Java, he showed an early interest in painting, actively taking part in school student movements and then interacting with Persagi, the Association of Indonesian Painters, which was founded in 1938. Gunawan found an escape for his issues through painting, despite his involvement politically, and his ‘over-the-bar’ expectations.

Gunawan was an artist as well as a political activist, and his work was committed to fighting poverty, injustice, and colonialism. My choice to reinterpret his painting comes from a personal connection; as a Dutch individual, the original artwork's showcase of the conflict between Indonesia and the Netherlands resonates deeply with me. In Gunawan's depiction, a man instructs a younger individual in the use of a rifle, symbolising the passing of knowledge during the troubles of war. Some observers may have interpreted the blue-green figure as a spiritual guide, imparting wisdom to the protagonist.

In my rendition, I wanted to present a balanced portrayal of both sides of the conflict—the Dutch on the right and the Indonesian on the left. Utilising satay sticks was imperative in accentuating the painting's contrast, while the bent flags provide a visual perspective. The inclusion of a river, dividing the composition, serves as a metaphor for perspective and life, extending beyond the confines of the artwork itself. Soundly titled "River Flows in You" and shaped like an eye, the painting invites viewers to contemplate the human experience within the context of war.

Employing Gunawan's signature techniques, such as elongated shapes and developed textures, was essential to capturing the essence of the original piece. Elevating certain elements with wooden blocks and utilising numerical symbolism, such as the unlucky numbers 4 and 13, add layers of meaning to the composition. Gradient shades of blue and white display the natural flow of the river, while layering techniques brought the waterfall to life.