Laila Airlie Dempster A Retrospective, Remembrances & Celebration of Life 1940 - 2018 Book 3 - Remembrances - Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 2018 ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Laila Airlie Dempster
A Retrospective, Remembrances & Celebration of Life
1940 – 2018
Book 3 - Remembrances
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 – 2018 Self-Portrait
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 1
3
For Laila’s family and friends
To recognize
the 40th Day Selamatan
Wisma Subud
26 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 – 2018 Self-Portrait
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 2
3
Woman in Pink
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 3
3
Remembrances
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 Remembrance Collection 4
3
Alexandra Asseily
Thank you so much for sharing this,
even though it is such heart-breaking
news. I was looking forward to seeing
Laila at Congress – wafting through, like
a beautiful butterfly, not stopping long,
anywhere…Oh well, she has now gone
ahead of us and will no doubt be
waiting for us, as beautiful and as
unchanged as ever!
Alexandra
London and Beirut
27 March 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 5
3
Grape Hyacinth, Muscari
Katharine O’Sullivan Walmsley, London
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 6
3
Ulfiah Brodjolukito
Très chère Laela
Tu es partie en beauté, t'envolant comme une plume douce; ton pinceau magique
entre tes doigts de fée.
Puisse le début de ce nouveau voyage vers la lumière de la liberté et du bonheur, la
grâce universelle que tu as tant attendue te soit révélée éternellement
Malgré notre chemin parcouru ensemble de longues années en harmonie et
désaccords, tu resteras pour moi une vraie soeur Subud montrant à tous un
exemple de soumission et de fidélité à Dieu et à Bapak J M durant tes épreuves
évidentes de ta vie.
Pour toi, Laela, ma profonde affection vibrera
dans mon coeur pour toujours.
Ulfiah
Wisma Subud
4 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 7
3
Stuart Cooke
MY DEAR FRIEND LAILA
L aila was my dear friend. She was also
my neighbor. You see she lived just below
turned this way and that over the years. We
talked about life and spiritual matters,
me. We would speak every day on my way always in sync in our feelings.
past her terrace living on my way upstairs Passing by, Laila would be painting or
to my apartment above hers. We would hosting friends. She was the hostess with
laugh and joke and often repeat songs the mostest on the Wisma Subud
from the forties and fifties back and forth compound (a kind of estate with over 80
to one another . I’d imitate her British residents).
accent saying, “Hello dahling, how are Her patio living room, surrounded by
you?”. flowers and plants, was an open salon for
She would laugh, saying the same back everyone. I’d never know who might be
to me. After chatting I’d toddle off with there. It could be other residents, visiting Laila’s patio living room
both of us saying, “Toodle ooh” or guests from overseas, friends from
another British expression, always smiling. elsewhere in Jakarta or the other islands.
She often invited me to lunch, which One thing I could be sure of was that
was a treat as every meal was scrumptious. when I’d look in, whoever was there
We shared a love for all kinds of cuisines, would be smiling. Her lightness and joy
French, Spanish, Italian, and, of course, were infectious.
Indonesian. We spoke about our previous •••
lives in Europe, other parts of Asia, and Do Do and his wife Arini were among
for me, in America. We grew up more or Laila’s closest friends. Do Do worked with
less at the same time, in the nineteen- Laila almost every day and in the evening,
fifties and sixties, so our frames of they were her more or less constant guests.
reference were similar. I’d tell her my Here’s what Do Do said about his
stories and she’d tell me hers. And we’d remembrances of her:
laugh. Oh, how we laughed. At our foibles,
at the funny things that had happened to The hostess with the mostest
us, or at the strange ways our lives had
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 8
3
“I’ve known Laila since 2014. I’d just been speaking in Spanish, but just left it
returned from Central Kalimantan helping and said goodbye. Usually before going
Subud brothers in the gold mining home I would kiss her hand (as Javanese
business and was introduced to her by a people do in respect for their parents). But
friend in Jakarta saying she was looking for this time Laila hugged me and kissed my
people who could help her with her left and right cheek, thanking me for
painting. My first impression was she was everything. Arini got the same hug. We
a good woman, a mother, soft, cheerful went home smiling about how much we
and full of energy. I was very happy to loved her. To me Laila was a humble
meet her because I also like painting and it person. She treated everyone the same,
ended up we can work well together. In rich or poor, this country or that, daily
short, I came to think of Laila as my own worker or highly educated. This was a
mother. She liked to give me instructions, valuable lesson for both of us.”
advice, and a positive spirit in terms of
good painting techniques as well as
psychology. Coincidentally my wife, Arini,
liked to talk to her about psychology as Laila with her friends
well. Rochana Fernandez from
The night before Laila’s passing, we Spain and Rochana Keele
were exchanging ideas. She was making from the USA.
preparations for a new painting of Ibu
Rahayu and for a one-woman show in
November. As usual she was full of
energy, sometimes dancing to the strains
of songs from her laptop. At about 8:30
pm I said goodbye to go home with Arini.
Laila suddenly looked at me with a blank
look… It was like her eyes were a mirror.
She spoke strangely in long passages of
Spanish, which she knows I don’t know.
After a few moments she realized she’d Dodo and Arini
A typical late afternoon at
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
Laila’s
17-May-18 9
3
When Laila was in her twenties, she landed figure puppets of Javanese plays taken
some modeling jobs in London. One day from the Indian Hindu epics the
an agent asked if he could represent her Ramayana and Mahabharata, Javanese Laila
for acting roles in the movies. He said she dancing, and others.
could be the new Julie Christie. Once can For the past several years Laila wanted Born of British parents in
see why. But her father did not approve, to stop her portrait commission work in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Laila Airlie is
and she continued to develop as a painter. order to dedicate herself to creating a a portrait artist who started drawing
permanent exhibition in Jakarta, which as a child. Brought up in a
would celebrate Javanese culture. It would diplomatic family, she lived in many
be modeled after the two rooms devoted parts of the world before settling in
to Monet’s Lilies at the Musée de Indonesia in 1971. She began her
l'Orangerie in Paris. Entitled, “The Secret studies in Barcelona, Spain with the
World of Java”, its purpose was to remind great master Alfredo Sisquella.
Indonesians of that part of their identity Sisquella was one of the original
which stems from the rich culture of members of the Barcelona group of
Central Java — Javanese dance, Gamelan artists that included Pablo Picasso.
music, Wayang Kulit (the shadow puppet A child prodigy, when she studied
Laila plays), etc. — which while still alive, is in at the British Council in Singapore at
many respects fading. 11 her life drawings were almost as
Julie Christie developed as they are today, and
We wrote proposals to fund the
After arriving in Indonesia in the early exhibit, which included a short biography seven years later she received her
1970s, Laila learned the language, became of her life. first portrait commissions. She
friends with many Indonesians, traveled A rough idea of the exhibit appears on continued her studies at the St.
among the islands, and for a time, lived in the following pages in an effort to Martin’s School of Art in London at
a small village in Central Java to paint and simulate Laila’s dream. 17, and five years later at the Byam
absorb the culture. While her work Shaw School of Art in London. Her
focused on portraiture, it expanded to works have been exhibited and
landscapes, and included examples of collected by individual owners and
Javanese culture in the forms of batik galleries in Europe and elsewhere
sarongs, wooden carvings, architecture, with a number now held in museums
characters from the celebrated shadow and around the world.
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 10
3MONET’S LILIES • MUSÉE DE L'ORANGERIE • PARIS
Explanation
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 11
3LAILA’S DREAM
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 12
3LAILA’S DREAM
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 13
3Every day now as I walk by her home, I
smile with happiness, knowing she is
happy in the other place, while
remembering all the fun she brought to
my life. God bless you Laila and bring you
his grace.
Stuart Cooke,
Wisma Subud
17 April, 2018
Laila’s
Wisma Subud
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 14
3Sylvia and Roderick des Tombe
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 15
3Sylvia des Tombe
Over the years since I visited Jakarta in 1970 Laila always looked lovely and was very
and, after my marriage in the latihan hall in diplomatic in her dealings with us all.
October 1971, moved to Cilandak, I had the
pleasure of getting to know Laila Dempster, Her love for and dedication to the latihan,
both as a friend and an artist. Subud members and Indonesia was profound
and superseded everything in her life. It was
In time, she painted all the members of my also reciprocated.
nuclear family, starting after my horseback
riding accident in 1989, which made it perfectly Laila was loved by generations of children who
clear that I wasn't going to live forever. grew up in Wisma Subud. They all called her
'Auntie Laila' and felt very close to and loved by
After I moved to Russia and then back to the her.
US, when I visited Cilandak, Laila was one of
the first people I visited. Laila's paintings really captured the essence of
their subjects and are a pleasure to behold.
She was always welcoming and gracious and
helped me re-orient myself. Laila was a Those of us who have had the privilege of
repository of all kinds of knowledge about knowing her will miss her greatly.
Indonesia.
Sylvia des Tombe
California
20 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 16
3Dr. Gerard P. Kuiper, displayed at the Kuiper Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona with grandson Matthew des Tombe
and great-grandson, Aiden des Tombe
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 17
3Shanty Harmayn
In 1989, I met this lovely lady and great portrait
painter named Laila Dempster. We spent almost a
week together, as I sat for her to paint my portrait.
Many can say that sitting for a portrait can be
painful, but definitely not my sitting for Laila. She
always looked stunning, wearing dresses in blood red
or orange color. But foremost, she was a fabulous
storyteller, entertaining and very funny too! As a 22-
year old, I was totally fascinated by her stories,
journeys and encounters. Yesterday, I received news
that Laila had passed away in her sleep. May you
Rest in Peace Laila. Thank you for our week
together, thank you for your art and your great life
stories always stayed with me. The world will miss
your bright, sparkling light.
Instagram #lailadempster
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 18
3Laila selected the colours for the ornamentation at
The Muhammad Subuh Centre in Rungan Sari, Kalimantan.
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 19
3Wayne Lerrigo & Family
Alicia, Lydia and Robert Lerrigo, MD
Oh yes, Dad, so many wonderful memories.
We were Mrs Green and Mrs Brown. We would
sit together having tea on her porch when she
lived upstairs in the new guest house. She made
that porch so pretty with flowers and plants and a
colorful awning. We would have these wonderful
chocolates she brought from Singapore.
Aunty Laila gave me wonderful hugs when I was
sad. She called me “Pet”. She always looked
pretty and smelled wonderful. She was like a
mother to me. I will miss her dearly and am so
glad that two of my daughters were able to meet
her.
Lydia Lerrigo
California
3 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 20
3Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 21
3Ruslan Morris & Family
Rahaju Morris and Runy Morris Safcik
Laila was truly my sister, perhaps more so than
anyone else including my biological sister. I loved
her wit, her beauty, her honesty, her cooking, her
diction and much more. In 45 years I never heard
anyone say a bad word about Laila, nor a bad
word from Laila about anyone. My wife Rahaju
was close to Laila as well. We treasure her portrait
of our four girls when they were little. If I had to
give one word to describe Laila it would be
“ichlas”. Ruslan
Laila was a "glow" everywhere she went, from her
beauty, outfit, elegance, and soft spoken. Some
Indonesians called her "Putri Solo Subud" (Subud’s
Princess from Solo). Her talent in portrait painting
is truly one of its kind - it's so alive - I treasure our
4 girls’ painting. Greatly missed. Rahaju
"Aunt Laila" always made me laugh with her
stories and jokes. She entertained while painting
and will be missed. Runy Morris Safcik 16 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 22
3Maria Perry
Dearest Laila,
I knew you before you went to Tjilandak. We used to go
to Central London Latihan, long before Amadeus, or
even Anugraha, were dreamed of and you stayed with
your Aunt, (Auntie P.*, I think you called her) in a flat on
Campden Hill. I lived, exactly where I live now. Neither
of us were famous. You had just begun to paint
portraits. I was an eager young actress and remember
you as so pretty and ‘ever young’.
You came back from Tjilandak, some years later, a
mature and distinguished artist. You had not changed.
Still the same delicate complexion and the same lilting
laugh. We both went a long way in our careers. You
painted many grand people and I am an internationally
known historian - one book in a ninth edition. I am so
glad you enjoyed Knightsbridge Woman. It was the first
in a trio of funny books about London. They even made
the Queen laugh!
Rest in peace , Darling. You will always shine in our
memories and your portraits are your legacy.
With love.
Maria
London 4 April 2018 * Pep for Pepita, aka Mabel.
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 23
3Maria Perry at Harrods Book Signing
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 24
3Olvia Reksodipoetro
About Laila
Besides looking always beautiful and
elegant, Laila was one of the sweetest
persons I have ever known.
Laila was a talented artist and also
someone with a lot of depth and enormous
generosity. She looked after new expat
Subud members and visitors, but also after
Indonesian Subud members going through
tough times, helping them to find ways to
overcome their problems.
She was a dear friend and I miss her.
Olvia
Wisma Subud
16 April 2018
Bouquet by Laila - Idul Fitri 2017
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 25
3Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 26
3Leonard Van Hien
This might be the last portrait completed by Laila.
At my request she very kindly agreed to give a
“lesson around a painting” at our home in
Pamulang to two Afghan refugee sisters,
Farahnaz, an acclaimed artist in her own right,
and Farzana. The portrait is of the younger sister
Farzana. The three of them had such fun
together. The sisters adored Laila and were
shocked and saddened to hear of her passing.
Leonard Van Hien
Pamulang
31 March 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 27
3Katharine O’Sullivan Walmsley
I am remembering Laila from 1971 when
we shared our sleeping quarters at the
1971 World Congress in Jakarta to our many
visits to Indonesia. A very serene Laila with
much laughter and joy whether she was
painting or just being Laila. May all
blessings be upon her as she continues her
life’s journey.
Katharine
London
1 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 28
3Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 29
3I first met Laila in 1972. A fun and bubbly personality .
Although there was sadness in Laila
she sailed far above the harshness of this world.
I came to know Laila best through her portraits.
Each one an insightful rendering of the subject
but all of them possessed an ethereal quality.
That was the quality of Laila., ethereal and sensitive.
Laila observed, witnessed and recorded the people
around her
while she herself lived in two worlds.
Laila, a magical piece of the beautiful mosaic that makes
up our Subud family.
May God’s blessings be with you always.
David
Wisma Subud
3 April 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 30
3David and Carolyn Whitaker
It was with great sadness I learnt of her passing from you. I thank you for letting
me know. She was a dear friend of SO, SO many years and did the portrait of
Carolyn and I for my 60th birthday. A great loss.
David A. Whitaker, England, 20 March 2018
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 31
3Happy Birthday to the Septuagenarians! October 2016
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 32
3Laila
The yet another passing One such number, rather shady
of another orang asing Feature’d Lydia, the Tattoo’d Lady!
depletes attendees of Fame’d on film by Groucho Marx
Congress ‘seventy-one. Laila’ filled hers with sparks .
Laila’s bright and brimming presence Another number, expertly sung
reflects the very essence with chortling laughter and lots of fun
of that congregation was our joint rendition of French’s edition
‘neath the Indonesian sun . twixt the battling Mamluk and the haughty Hun.
Our hopes were high, Bapak was nigh, Born In the same month, of the same year
the future looked secure each October, still quite sober,
the testing and the talks, the socializing walks saw us render a version tender
gave hope for all, that Subud would endure. of Abdulla Bulbul Ameer!
Though she gained her crust by art, So, now it’s farewell to our twinkling belle
that skill was only part as she’s borne by zephers above,
of a treasure trove of talent to her judgement day, where we hope and pray
she’d been given at the start. she’ll meet with His limitless love.
She could skip, flit and flutter Malcolm
make French desserts from butter 15 April 2018
make an oriental salad Wisma Subud
or sing a baudy ballad.
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 33
3Malcolm and Diane Wildsmith
What would a painting exhibition be without its audience? Just as the painter and the model
have a special rapport, so do the viewers and the painting. An aesthetic appreciation of the
painting’s nuances, its light and its presence complement the artist’s perception. Laila was a
sensitive portrait painter and a vivacious friend, in effect spreading her happiness everywhere.
Diane
Wisma Subud
23 April 2018 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 34
3Miles and Marina
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 – 2018 Self-Portrait
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 35
3Ratmi - Laila’s Helper - Wisma Subud
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
36
3A Favorite Meal – A Ratouille or Spanish Pisto Variation
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
37
3A Favorite Meal – Soto Ayam
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
38
3Miles
Miles Dempster and daughter Marina
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 – 2018 Self-Portrait
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 39
3Laila’s Terrace at Wisma Subud
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
40
3Laila’s Final Resting Spot
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
41
3Visiitng an Island Paradise
17-May-18 Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of 42
3Laila Airlie Dempster 1940 – 2018 Self-Portrait
Laila Airlie Dempster 1940-2018 Book 3 of
17-May-18 43
3You can also read
