Originally commissioned by BMW Indonesia in 2009, this large six panel acrylic on canvas, Seneng Kuwi Larang Regane (Happiness is Expensive to Buy), is an enthralling example of Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho’s signature comic-inspired paintings full of fantastical creatures. Executed in a soothing aquamarine, the artist transports the viewer into a subaquatic scene, featuring strange semi-human forms. Nugroho often incorporates symbols of aliens, astronauts or monsters into his work, imbuing his scenes with a wondrous quality that renders his subject matter universal, rather than fixed in the context of Indonesia or its political climate. While the subject matter of the present work is engaging in its ambiguity, its title “Seneng Kuwi Larang Regane” derives from a Javanese expression that roughly means money cannot buy happiness. Born in Yogyakarta in 1977 and studying at the Indonesian Art Institute (Institut Seni Indonesia), Nugroho is a master storyteller, known for his work in a diverse range of media including painting, murals, sculpture, drawing, embroidery and animation, employing humour and satire in the exploration of wider themes including contemporary Indonesian politics.

《快樂昂貴》是畫家艾可・努穀厚於2009年受印尼BMW委託而創作的畫作，這件由六幅壓克力彩畫布組成的大型作品充滿了各式各樣的奇珍異獸，完美地體現了努穀厚深受漫畫啟發而令人著迷的獨特風格。藝術家透過本作帶領觀眾走入水底世界，欣賞水中怪異奇特的半人生物。努穀厚經常在作品中融入外星人、太空人及怪物的象徵元素，為他筆下的世界注入奇妙的特質，令作品不只集中於印尼文化或政局之上，更易引起廣大觀眾的共鳴。本作主題含糊曖昧的特性非常耐人尋味，而本作的名稱「Seneg Kuwi Larang Regane」是一句爪哇諺語，意思大約是「金錢無法買到快樂」。努穀厚在1977年出生於日惹，並曾於印尼藝術學院（Institut Seni Indonesia）就讀。他非常擅於敘事，而他的作品橫跨畫作、壁畫、雕塑、素描、刺繡及動畫等多個媒介並廣受歡迎，以幽默與嘲諷的手法探討印尼當下政局等宏觀主題。