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I've inherited several wonderful pieces of art. They appear to be South or Southeast Asian. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could identify the type of art, and if possible, value. The signature looks something like Kuswadji. I've included a detail of the signature.
Thank you

Fabric colored (watercolor?) to look a little like Indonesian batik but is not.

So items made Indonesia.

Check this listing of artists for name possibilities.

http://www.the-art-world.com/artists-indonesia.htm

I greatly appreciate your posting. I checked the artists' site using your url. There are are very few artists listed there, especially none named Kuswadji (i'm not even sure I'm reading the signature correctly). Am I in the right forum? Can you suggest one more likely to have familiarity with the artist/work? I've got to admit, I'm having trouble making my way around here, as I can't even find my postings via search. Only the url from emails I'm receiving gets me back here. So please forgive me for my naivete, I would greatly appreciate your help steering me in the right direction.

These look like decorative batik panels from Indonesia, perhaps Bali. However, I'm unfamiliar with individual artisans there.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thank you for your response. The previous responder did not think these are batik at all, but rather watercolors. Is there anywhere you could suggest that would help me identify these pieces? I really like them, and am willing to research them, but I've tried many message boards, and feel like I'm at a dead end. Is it likely, then, that these are inexpensive works by an unknown? If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Inexpensive works by unknown sometimes become early works by artist later better known.

Are many thousands of artists in China, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam . . . try make a little money sell to tourists. Some good/interesting, most not.

You may have to be satisfied for now with just liking them.

Good luck,
Cal

I suggest that you look to Java, Indonesia. Yogyo is a centre of traditional culture in Java, and the imagery has Hindu influences, and is similar to art you would expect to see in Bali.

Thank you so much for your reply and helping me narrow down my search. Are you suggesting I should try another forum/subforum? I'm not sure how to follow up on your information.
Regards, Edmund

"Yogya" is the nick-name for Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and this is a typical product of the batik industry there. The "veins" in the white circle confirm that it is indeed batik. Although it is an attractive decorative piece, such art is produced in the thousands for the tourist markets in Yogykarta, Bali, and Anchol in Jakarta. Artists sign their own names but since most have ony one name (no family name), further Identification would be almost impossibe.

Roger

Pictured is a batik & art workshop in Yogyakarta

Thanks for your help with this Roger. They do nice work there - and thank you as well for identifying the Batik characteristic. I had a feeling this was produced in that sort of fashion - I certainly couldn't find anything out about the 'Kuswadji' signature. Regards.

Kuswadji (the father) was an artist, famous for his 'batik' masterpieces of traditional inspiration. He lived in Java - more especially in Djogdjakarta. He participated in shows in Europe and even in New-York, I was told. His sons followed his tracks, with other or more modern inspiration and style . I bought one batik from Kuswadji in 1978 in Djogdjakarta. Very nice. The name was famous there by that time.
Regards
Henri

Thanks a lot, Henri. I appreciate your history. I'm glad to hear he's a reputable artist.

For more info see website: http://painters.tomenels.nl

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