Agapetoes graduated from the Indonesian Art Institute, Yogyakarta (Institut Seni Indonesia/ISI) in 1987-1994. He has held a solo exhibition Fourth Horizon, at Edwin’s Gallery, Jakarta, 2003 He has participated in several group exhibitions in Indonesia and abroad since 2000. He is known for using animals such as cows and pigs to portray themes of alienation, conflict and dependency, and his works often communicate through humour and satire.
Agus “Baqul” Purnomo graduated from the Indonesian Art Institute, Yogyakarta.
He has participated in many competitions, among others: Jakarta Art Award (Finalist), International Print & Drawing Biennale, Taiwan (Finalist), Nokia Art Award Jakarta, 1997 (Finalist); The best watercolor of The Fine Art Faculty of ISI Yogyakarta, 1997. He has also participated in many exhibitions since 1998, among others; Art @Whiteaways, VW Special Projects, The Whiteaways Arcade, George Town, Penang, Malaysia, 2013; Monumental Valentine Willie Fine Art, Singapure, 2012; Halo-halo 5 Manila Contemporary, Philippines, 2011, Exhibition, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta, 2010; "Headlight" Valentine Willie Fine Art, Singapore. 2009; Tenggara, Novas Contemporary Urban Center (CUC), Liverpool, UK, 2008; Abstract Relation, Xoas Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, 2007; Terror?, Intersection for The Art,California, US, 2006. He has had some solo exhibitions, among others: Ruang Tanpa Ruang, Gelaran Budaya, Yogyakarta, 2001, Vortex 8, Tembi Contemporary Gallery, Yogyakarta, 2008.
Completed his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, the Netherlands. He also took extensive study tours to France, Italy, Germany, and other diverse European countries. Agus Djaja had a prominent role in the establishment of Indonesian fine art as a national concept. In 1937, together with S. Sudjojono, he founded PERSAGI, the first Indonesian Artists Association during the Dutch Colonial era. He was nominated Chairman. He also became the Chairman of the Fine Art Department of the Indonesian of Cultural Center (1942 - 1945). He was widely acknowledged as a distinguished artist with a long record of exhibitions in many cultural centers nationally and abroad.
He had solo exhibition Tembang Sunyi, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta, 2016.
He has participated in many group exhibitions; Melangkah Pasti, Hotel Sahid Jaya, Jakarta, 2009; Genta Dalam Warna, Suroboyo Art Centre, 2008; Tiga Perupa Jakarta,Margo City Depok, 2007; Untuk Kemanusiaan, WTC Jakarta 2001; Jakarta, 2003; 5 Artists, Velona Gallery Jakarta, 1999; He also won an award; when he became the Winner of the Kosgoro Central Lampung Anniversary Painting Competition, in 1994.
Arie Smit trained at the Academy of Arts in Rotterdam, and arrived in Indonesia in 1938, as a soldier in the Dutch Colonial Army. He obtained his Indonesian citizenship in 1951. From 1950-1956 he taught painting at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). In 1956 he moved to Bali, and he lived and painted there ever since. He has had solo exhibitions in Bandung, Jakarta, Palembang, Balikpapan, Singapore, and Honolulu, U.S.A. In 1992, he received a Gold Medal Dharma Kusuma Award from the Balinese provincial government for his contributions to the development of Balinese painting.
After obtaining his bachelor's degree in Architecture from Parahyangan University in 2005, Arkiv Vilmansa began his artistic journey in 2010 and had his first solo exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has had many exhibitions overseas including at Mae Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; Young Art Taipei Group Show, Taipei, Taiwan and Vivi Yip ArtRoom, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Arifien moved to Jakarta in the 1970s. Interested in interior design and old colonial architecture, it was only in the mid-1980s that he began to paint professionally. He was inspired by the works of artists such as Sudjojono, Matisse, Chagall and Bosch. He has participated in exhibitions in Indonesia, Singapore and the U.S.A.
Barli Sasmitawinata is an Indonesian realist painter and is widely known for his contribution for fine arts education in Indonesia. He started to be involved within the art world in the late 1930s and was a member of the “Group of Five'' which included art masters such as Affandi, Hendra Gunawan, Sudarso and Wahdi. Barli had begun painting in 1935 to fulfill the request made by his brother-in-law to study art in Jos Pluimentz studio, a Belgian painter living in Bandung at the time. Afterwards, he was then mentored by Lugi Nobili, an Italian painter living in Bandung as well. In pursuit of further education, Barli continued his studies of fine arts in Europe. He graduated from the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris (1950) and Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam (1956).
After completing his studies in Europe, Barli came back to Indonesia and continued his artistic pursuits in Bandung. He taught fine arts classes as a professor in the Institute of Technology Bandung and in the University of Education Indonesia. His extensive studies into art positioned him as a well versed and knowledgeable teacher. Sasmita himself has mentored many students that have achieved success and recognition such as Popo Iskandar, Srihadi Soedarsono, Yusuf Affendi, AD Pirous, Anton Huang, R. Rudiyat Martadiraja, Chusin Setiadikara, Sam Bimbo and Rudi Pranajaya. Sasmita’s personal artworks have been exhibited nationally and internationally.
Abdullah was born into a family of successful artists; his father, Abdullah Suriobroto, and brother, Sudjono Abdullah, were both prominent landscape painters. In 1933, he studied at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten in the Hague, additionally travelling to Paris and Rome. Upon his return to Indonesia, he studied under the painter Schumacher. He has worked as President Soekarno's presidential painter, and as a court painter of the Kingdom of Thailand. He is most famous for his portraits of the rich and famous. His work has been exhibited in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the Netherlands, England and Portugal.
Antonio Blanco studied at the Fine Arts Academy in New York, eventually taking his professional roots in Florida and California. He has been honoured by several international art organisations. His awards include the Tiffany Fellowship, New York; La Cofradia del Arrios, Spain; and Chevalier du Sahanetrei from Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. He lived in Ubud, Bali from 1952 until his death in 1999.
Bonny Setiawan studied at the Art Academy in Yogyakarta (ASRI). Both of his parents were active painters. Living in Yogyakarta, Bonny's inspiration is derived from this lively city. The thematic content of his work therefore reflects old Javanese traditions, such as herbs sellers, Javanese weddings, or Wayang Kulit. He also explores topics that could reflect the life of any large and modern city, illustrating scenes such as carnivals, the circus, mask festivals or showtime. Bonny's work is therefore defined by a typically juxtaposition of traditional and modern life to demonstrate the tensions at simultaneous play in the human experience.
He studied at the Indonesian Art Institute (Institut Seni Indonesia/ISI), majoring in printmaking in 2001-2008 and Modern School of Design Yogyakarta Indonesia in 1999-2000. He received award Academic Art Award # 2 Achievement for a young artist whose main interest is in the printmaker category from The Indonesian Institute of the Art and Jogja gallery, 2008. He has held a solo exhibition Timbul’s Deli, Edwin Gallery, Jakarta, 2010; Pandemic Artivity, ruang atas gallery online exhibition, 2020; Eksil6 l Genosida Politik 1965-1966. He has participated in many group exhibitions at overseas among others; Make cover illustration for Novel RITORNO A CASA, Pulang in Italian language, published by Atmosphere Libri, translated by Antonia Soriente and Alfonso Cesarano , for Frankfurt Book Fair, 2015; Printmaking exhibition Long Ago and Far Away, Dahlia Gallery, Singapore, 2010; II International Printmaking exhibition Tabula Rasa, Tophane-I Amire, Istanbul Turkey, 2007; indonesia-Spain art exhibition Ligeros de equipaje, UCLM (Universidad de castilla-la mancha) Spain, 2006; Message From Indonesia#2, Kobe University, Kyoto japan, 2005.
He actively participated in many group exhibitions in Indonesia among others; Revitalisasi: 20 Tahun Museum H. Widayat, H. Widayat Museum Magelang, 2015; Printmaking exhibition Acid Synthesis, Viavia Yogyakarta, 2014; Doing illustration project for Leila S. Chudori's Novel Pulang and published by KPG (Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia), 2013; Intaglio exhibition Here and There, Now and Then, Langgeng Art Foundation, 2012; Survey #2.10, Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, 2011; Cropcycle, Canna Gallery, Jakarta, 2011; Comical Brother, National Gallery, Jakarta, 2010; MonoPrint, at Art District Grand Indonesia, Jakarta, 2010; Guru Oemar Bakri, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, 2009; Bohemian Carnival, National Gallery, Jakarta, 2009; Mentor for 1st printmaking workshop Meniti Garis Menuai Bentuk, Taman Budaya Lampung Sumatera, 2008; Jogja Deathmatch, Roommate gallery, Yogyakarta, 2008; 5th Indonesian Comic Week (Pekan komik Indonesia PKI), Malang University's Cultural Center Hall, East Java, 2007; CP International Biennale II Urban Culture 2006, Museum Bank Indonesia, Jakarta, 2005; Comic Exhibition Kompilasi Tangan Panjang, Indonesian Institute of the Art Postgraduate, Yogyakarta, 2005; Gedebook (Get The Book), Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, 2004; Saltprint Art Javanesia, Java CafŽ Yogyakartatencil Art, Cemeti Art Foundation, Yogyakarta, 2004; Art Exhibition Event for Yogyakarta Art Festival XVIII Bazaar and Barcode, 2004; Outdoor Party, FSR Plaza Indonesian Institute of the Art Yogyakarta, 2003; Yogyakarta Art Festival and Exhibition Reply, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, 2003; The Compilation of Pisangseger's art work, Yogyakarta, 2002; Playing in the Rain, Atma Jaya University, Yogyakarta, 2002.
Eddie Hara currently lives and works in Switzerland. Eddie Hara's works are included in the Singapore Art Museum, Museum der Kulturen, Basel, Switzerland, as well as private foundations, corporate and galleries in Indonesia and worldwide. He has participated in numerous exhibitions, among others: Art Stage Jakarta, Nadi Gallery Jakarta, Canna Gallery Jakarta, Semarang, 2019; Aqua Art Fair, GX Gallery London, Miami, USA, 2017; Art Paris 2015, Element, Art Space, France, 2017; Art Philippines, Equator Art Project, Manila, The Philippines, 2015; Art Stage Singapore, Nadi Gallery and Semarang Gallery, Singapore, 2014; Art Stage Singapore, Nadi Gallery, Singapore, 2013. He has had some solo exhibitions, among others: Sweet (& Sour) Sixty, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2017; We Do Not Belong To This High Fuckin Art Society, Eyeloveyou, Basel Switzerland, 2015; Special Project: EddiE haRA, Bazaar Art Jakarta, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta Indonesia, 2014; Peculiar Vibration Of The Empty Ocean, Insight Section of the 1st Art Basel Hongkong, Semarang Gallery, Hongkong, 2013; Carnival of the FUNtastic, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2011; Global Warming, Cool Art!, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2007; Captain Fuck & Co, Canna Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2005; We Are Not Alone-Lost Heroes and Sensible Weirdoes, Jendela Art Space, Esplanade, Singapore, 2004. His art experiences among others; Window Glass painting at Adams CBD Store, Basel, Switzerland, 2017; Window Glass painting at Terrorsamba Club, Basel, Switzerland, 2016; Mural at eyeloveyou, Basel, Switzerland, 2015; Mural at Artotel Jakarta, Indonesia, 2013; Mural at M54, Basel, Switzerland, 2008, Mural, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2007, Art is Cheap – Project One, a 56 Minute Performance, Schalter, Basel, Switzerland, 2006, Mural at La Chapelle Tunnel, Recyclart, Bruxelles, Belgium, 2005.
Education ISI Yogyakarta. Award; 2009 Rekor MURI Mural 1100 Tong Sampah, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta. He participated in group exhibitions among others; Kangen Malioboro, TBY Yogyakarta, 2008; IAD ISI Yogyakarta Mural Tembok Kosong, 2008; Mural Rolling Door Toko kawasan Klaten, Kota, 2007; Workshop Patung Lilin Studio Patung ISI Yogyakarta, 2007.
Faizin is a self-taught artist. He started to exhibit his works in several cities in Java, Indonesia. Jatim Art Now, The Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, 2012; Jakarta Art Award Dunia Ideal, 2012; Jatim Art Now, Galeri Soemardja ITB, Bandung, 2012; Asian Art Mosaic, Windsor Ballroom The Goodwood Park Hotel Singapore, 2006; Bulan Purnama, Galeri Canna, Jakarta, 2006; Heart To Heart, Ballroom Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, 2001; Kecil Itu Indah 8, Edwin Gallery Jakarta, 2000; Sekuntum Asa Untuk Milenium Tiga, WTC, Jakarta, 2000; active in many group exhibitions in Java and Bali, 1996-1998. He has received award Finalist The Phillip Morris Indonesian Art Award VI at the Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, 1999.
Nyoman Gunarsa, graduated of the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts (ASRI) in Yogyakarta, where he was also a lecturer for many years. In 1970, he was one of the co-founders of Sanggar Dewata Indonesia. He has received multiple awards since the 1960s, including the Pratisara Affandi Adhi Karya from STSRI “ASRI” Yogyakarta; Best Painting Award at the Indonesian Painting Biennial in 1978 and 1980; Lempad Prize awarded by the Governor of Bali. Gunarsa has participated in dozens of exhibitions throughout Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, U.S.A, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy. He was one of the invited artists at the Art of Bali exhibitions, the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1998. He established the Museum of Contemporary Indonesian Painting in Yogyakarta in 1989, and the Museum of Classical Balinese Painting in Klungkung in 1994. His expressionistic style features offerings, dancers, and wayang (puppets).
Hadi’s life is not familiar to the public. He is a realist painter and the majority of his works are in the possession of collectors in Indonesia.
He was educated from the Government HIS and MULO, then went into Taman Siswa university. Dukut Hendronoto was his 1st teacher, Yazir Marzuki, etc. Then he got guidance from Basuki Abdullah, S. Sudjojono, Agus Djaya at Keimin Bunka Shidosho and along with that, he learnt in Poetra (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat). And he also participated in Gabungan Pelukis Indonesia with a few artists, such as Zaini, Trisno Sumarjo, Sutiksna, Nashar, Suparto, Basuki Resobowo, Affandi, Nasyah Djamin dan Sudarso. At Yogyakarta he participated with Pelukis Indonesia Muda which most of the participants came from ASRI, such as Widayat, Sayogo, Rais Ra'yan, Saptoto, Sidharta and Sukandar. He is so active to exhibit at Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Denpasar. His exhibitions were organized by Departemen P & K at North Sumatra, continent of East Europe, Brazil, India and Singapore. Exhibition for 25th years old PBB in New York.
Hasan Djaafar first studied under the tutelage of renowned Indonesian landscape painter Wakidi. He later traveled to Europe where he was influenced by impressionism and expressionism.
She studied at the Department of Painting, Faculty of Art and Design ITB, graduating in 1981. Her name is akin to abstract painting in Indonesia. She explores work by combining various aesthetic elements, namely murals, embosses, and collages while still based on paintings. Due to the upbringing of her father who was in the military, Heyi was a disciplined figure. Unlike other artists who like to wait for the right mood, Heyi makes time to work. This makes her always ready to present her works whenever the opportunity arises.Therefore she actively exhibited. She has held two solo exhibitions, first at Bank Summa, Jakarta (1990) and = at Studio R-66, Bandung (1992). In addition, Heyi also participated in several joint exhibitions, including exhibitions in Taiwan, ROC (2000), Porte d'Amboise, Medieval City Rhodes (2002), Athens, Greece, Paris, France, Valencia, Italy; (2003), Hong Kong (2003),and Singapore (2006). She also participated in joint exhibitions with other Indonesian women artists, such as "The Curtain Opens”, and “What's Up, Mother? # 2”, both at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta (2007 & 2014).
From 1952-67 Huang Fong lived in Surabaya. He learned the watercolor technique from the painter Tan Kiaw Tek in Surabaya, and in 1961 he began to study oil painting with Nurdin BS. He also studied at IKIP Seni Rupa / Art Teachers Training College in Surabaya. In 1967 he moved to Bali to paint under the guidance of Affandi. He held his first solo exhibition in Jakarta in 1969. Since 1961 he has had ten solo exhibitions in Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea and Australia. He was one of the founders of Sanggar Kamboja in Bali.
After completing his studies at the Indonesia Fine Art High School in Yogyakarta (1976-1980), he continued his studies at the Jakarta Institute for the Arts (Lembaga Pendidikan Kesenian Jakarta /LPKJ), school of the Fine Arts (1984-1983). With a grant from the Dutch government, he furthered his studies at the Jan Van Rijck Academie in Maastricht (1984-1986). Since 1979, he has actively participated in exhibitions, including group/joint exhibitions in Solo, Lampung, Jakarta, Muenchen, Dusseldorf, Maastricht, Groningen, Amsterdam, The Hague, as well as numerous solo exhibitions in: Jakarta, Amsterdam, Groningen, Eindhoven, Tasikmalaya, Yogyakarta, and Bandung. He has also participated in workshops such as the Asian Youth Painting Workshop and Exhibition (Bangkok, 1983), the Ceramic workshop in the De Bosch, the Netherlands (1992-1995). He received an award from the Jakarta municipal government as well as from the Bulgarian Government.
In 1953-1955 Jeihan Sukmantara studied painting at HBS/Himpunan Budaya Surakarta under the guidance of Sumitro Hendronoto. From 1960-1966, he studied painting at ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology). He has had solo exhibitions in Jakarta, Bandung, Solo and Surabaya in Indonesia, Rome (Italy) and Paris (France). He has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Indonesia, United States of America, Algeria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In 1978, he established the Studio Seni Rupa Bandung (Bandung Fine Arts Studio) with Dr. Sudjoko.
Predominantly a self-taught artist, Bram only studied how to paint under the guidance of senior painter Barli Sasmitawinata in Bandung. Over the years, he has participated in group exhibitions and currently lives in Ubud, Bali since 1992.
Lucia Hartini studied at the Indonesia Art School (SSRI), Yogyakarta, in 1976-1977. Lucia Hartini's realism does not reflect a direct representation of her observations, but rather a reality of another kind. As she states, one that is not commonly known or accessed. Lucia's work was selected for the Mutation: Painstaking Realism in Indonesian Art exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, in 1997.
Mangu Putra graduated from the Indonesian Art Institute (Institut Seni Indonesia/ISI), Yogyakarta, in 1990, majoring in Visual Communication Design. He received awards for the Best Work in Visual Communication Design at Dies Natalis IV (1988) and VI (1990) at ISI Yogyakarta, and was one of the Top Ten prize winners of the Indonesian Art Awards in 1994. He worked as a Graphic Designer from 1990-98. He has had solo exhibitions in Bali and Jakarta, and has participated in group exhibitions in Indonesia and Singapore.
Mokoh studied a Balinese wayang style of painting with his uncles I Gusti Ketut Kobot and I Gusti Made Baret, both of whom were central figures in the Pita Maha artists association. He has participated in group exhibitions in Australia, U.S.A, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Holland, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. He held his solo exhibition at the Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan in 1995. Mokoh also exhibited at the Venice Biennial in a two-man exhibition with Mondo in 1993.
Nasirun studied at the Indonesian Institute of Arts (Institut Seni Indonesia/ISI) of Yogyakarta, 1987-1994. He received awards for the best sketches and paintings from the Indonesian Fine Art Academy (Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia/ASRI, his pieces were selected as one of the five best paintings at Yayasan Seni Rupa Indonesia (Indonesian Fine Arts Foundation)-Philip Morris Indonesian Art Award, and he entered the ASEAN Art Awards in Manila, The Philippines. He held his solo exhibitions at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Gallery) in 2000, and participated in the Soul Ties Exhibition in the Singapore Art Museum.
Ong Kim Seng has been a full-time artist since 1985. He has participated in group and solo exhibitions at Singapore and in the United States, China, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Middle East, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the ASEAN countries. Ong is the first and only Singaporean to have won six awards by the prestigious 138-year-old American Watercolor Society (AWS), of which he was conferred membership in 1992. He is also the only Asian artist outside the US to be admitted into AWS. The Art of Ong Kim Seng was Ong's first solo exhibition. It took place in ElleSix Gallery, Malaysia, and showcased about 30 of his works in his first Malaysian solo exhibition. It showcased his most memorable paintings that have spanned over 36 years of his career as an artist and traveller. His collectors include Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China and the Secretary-General of the United Nations among other notable people.
After the Indonesia proclamation, Otto Djaya was given the opportunity to study art at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, as well as enroll at the Faculty of the Humanities of the University of Amsterdam for studies in Philosophy. He went on a study-tour of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland. Otto held the position of Vice Chairman in the Art division of the Cultural Centre in Jakarta. He participated in the Exposition “Le Grand Prix de Peinture en Monaco” in Monte Carlo, and in the Biennial Exhibition in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Besides his solo exhibition in Jakarta, he often took part in group exhibitions in Jakarta and Melbourne, Australia.
Popo Iskandar began painting in 1944 as a poster painter for the information service in Indonesian Armed Forces. In 1958, he graduated from the Department of Art in Bandung Institute of Technology/ITB). He was a lecturer assistant at ITB from 1957 to 1961, and additionally lectured in the Art Department of IKIP/Teacher's Training Institute, Bandung for many years. He held several solo exhibitions in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Medan (Indonesia), the Hague and the Leiden (The Netherlands). He participated in numerous group exhibitions in Indonesia, China, UK, India, Japan, America, Netherlands and Brazil. Popo was also an art critic and essayist of art and literature. He was chosen as a lifetime member of the Jakarta Academy in 1970. He received the Anugerah Seni Art Award from the Indonesian Government in 1980.
Until he passed away in Paris over a decade ago at the age of 100, the Indonesian artist Salim had lived there since 1957, and also for a few years in the 1920s. Therefore, he will always be considered as “our man in Paris”.
In a 1946 Merdeka weekly article it is said that nobody knows where Salim came from. It mentions that he emerged in Holland as a young foster child of a former planter from Deli, East Sumatra. Even to his closest friends he never revealed who he really was. An article published in 1956 mentions that he was born in Medan, North Sumatra on 3 September 1908. He left for Europe in 1912.
After completing his high school studies at Arnhem, he left his foster parents to pursue his interest in art. In particular, he was a believer of “l’art pour l’art” (art for art’s sake), and therefore he was bound for Paris. When he arrived in Paris with very little money, he was faced with the reality that becoming an artist was not as easy as he imagined. Therefore he had to accept a job as a doorman at the Académie de La Grande Chaumière, an art academy. Due to his handsome appearance, the owner of the academy, apparently a French aristocratic lady, eventually allowed him to study there. Not only did he not have to become the guard to the entrance and do the chores of a porter anymore but he also became one of the favorite students of the owner of the academy. The following year, 1929, he attended Académie Léger, an academy that Fernand Léger set up with his colleagues and friends, including Amédée Ozenfant, where art students could study art, free of charge.
After his adventures in Paris he returned to Amsterdam and became acquainted with Indonesian students there, among others Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir. They often discussed matters about art, culture, and society. This sparked his interests towards his home country. He intended to visit the Netherlands Indies, where he hoped to propagate his ideals of “l’art pour l’art”.
In the early 1930s Sjahrir's brother-in-law, Djoehana Wiradikarta, obtained his medical degree in Holland and was returning home with his family. By working as the caretaker of Djoehana’s children during the journey, Salim was able to join them to the Indies. In Batavia, he worked at an advertising company called the Java Neon Company. He also assisted Sjahrir and Hatta both at their PNI-Pendidikan party and the Daulat Ra'jat magazine. The two prominent politicians were eventually exiled to Boven Digoel, and this left Salim to introspect. Throughout his stay in the Indies, he faced the grim reality that it was under colonial rule. Whereas in Europe he lived as an equal to others, in his own home country he was subject to the colonial social structure that was based on racial classification. He faced discrimination and subordination, something that he had not experienced before. Therefore he decided to return to Europe. “I prefer to die hungry in the artistic center of the world, rather than to live full of abundance in a colonized land, feeling depressed,” he said later.
He started exhibiting in Holland. After World War II, disappointed with the Netherlands return to claim Indonesia as its colony, the artist moved to Sète, a town in France. He held his first solo exhibition there in 1948. In October the following year, Salim held a solo exhibition at the M. L. de Boer Gallery. The show was attended by the Indonesian delegation who came to Holland for the Round Table Conference held in The Hague that year, which led to the Dutch recognition of Dutch sovereignty.
In this exhibition, Salim received praise from Dutch critics. “It is clear that in a part of his works exhibited, Salim underwent the influence of Raoul Dufy, the French painter. The strong colors radiate joy, healthy optimism,” writes one critic. “This artist from ‘the belt of the emerald around the equator’ has the view of a European painter. There is nothing in this work that reminds us of the land of his birth... he has a personal perspective on what inspires him to paint, while the sun's glow from his native country appears to accompany him on his many wanderings through Europe and thereby lends his art a special charm,” writes another.
Salim decided to visit his home country, now a new republic, once again. In Indonesia, his solo exhibition was first held in 1951 with the support of the Foundation for Cultural Cooperation, featuring his paintings all done in France. The show was opened by Sjahrir, who mentioned that he had known him for a long time. He said that during that time, while he himself was still unsure about his purpose in life, Salim had already known that his life would be a balance of beauty, justness, and honesty, and that is what we can see through his works in the exhibition. Critic Trisno Sumardjo said that we have looked at Salim’s art in context. It would not be appropriate to expect to see Eastern, nationalist nor proletariat values in his works. Instead, if we view them using universal values, we can see that the world he reveals is beautiful, as he is an artist without prejudice nor pretense, a true modernist.
In 1956 Salim exhibited at the Balai Budaya, presenting the works he made during his stay in Indonesia. Fellow artist Baharudin Marasutan wrote that he found the painting Bunga (1950) most attractive. Baharudin wrote that he hoped that Salim’s visit to Indonesia would be useful towards his further artistic development in Europe.
From 1957 until his death in 2008, Salim lived in an apartment in the city of Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris. He did become quite a successful artist, exhibiting in Europe every few years in the 1950s to the 1970s. In the 1970s he won prizes and medals from art festivals in which he participated. He returned to Indonesia to exhibit his works in Jakarta and Bandung in 1974 and 1990. Later he exhibited in Bali in 2001 and Osaka in 2002. As Salim has lived in Europe for most of his life, he is still considered an Indonesian artist, but as he has lived for over 60 years in Paris, he will always be considered as “our man in Paris”.
Now, we have a good opportunity to exhibit and auction some of the remaining works available by “our artist in Paris”, the late Salim. Most of the paintings featured here are works done towards the end of his life, yet still very much shows his mastery of his profession as a painter. There are also some works from the 1970s and 1980s that are astounding. We hope that this brief introduction to Salim and his works will be appreciated by our art enthusiasts here in Jakarta.
Sambodja has fallen in love with the art of drawing since he was very young. In 1937 his father died and his family had no money for him to continue his schooling. When he was 13, his friend helped him find a job which required him to paint umbrellas. He used the money he earned as an umbrella painter to continue schooling until the end of Japanese occupation of Indonesia in 1945.
During the Revolutionary War, between 1945 and 1949, Sambodja frequently moved from one place to another and as a result, his schooling and also his work were often interrupted. In 1949 Sambodja moved to and settled in Jakarta. Between 1951 and 1953 he worked for Auke Sonnega, a Dutch artist, who had settled in Jakarta. During that period, Sambodja was commissioned to make drawings and paintings for advertising purposes. Auke taught Sambodja the art of painting in oils. When Auke Sonnega went back to the Netherlands in 1957, Sambodja continued working as a painter and magazine illustrator.
Since 1962 Sambodja took part in various group exhibitions and solo exhibitions.He displayed his work together with that of artist Hindradjat at Balai Budaya in 1963. In 1964, he participated in a group exhibition held to mark the Service of the Air Force of the Republic of Indonesia at the building of the National Sports Committee (KONI), opened by President Sukarno.
In 1965 Sambodja held his first ever solo exhibition at the residence of the U.S. Embassy military attaché William Slade. In 1970, Sambodja had his next solo exhibition at Asoka Hotel (now Grand Hyatt Hotel on Jalan MH Thamrin). He had another solo exhibition in 2000, at the Sahid Hotel, opened by then Vice President, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Rudolf Schmidt channeled his artistic talents by studying at the German Academy. After graduating, he then became a teacher at several universities such as Darmstadt University (1972-1983), Kassel University (1975-1978), and Frankurt University (1979-1983). Before marrying his wife, who is an Indonesian citizen in 1980, Rudolf only traveled in Europe to introduce his paintings.
Since 1983, Rudolf often visited Indonesia and painted natural beauty and portraits of Indonesian life in several areas such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Bali. While in Indonesia, Rudolf became interested in studying light reflections on the subject of his painting which was poured on canvas using oil, charcoal, and crayon as media.
Village Scenery expresses the peace and tranquility that the artist feels when enjoying the nature, culture and activities he encountered in Indonesia. He uses a simple technique in depicting forms, but they are usually rich in color. “I like to work in open spaces and immediately paint what I see. Therefore, I quickly became familiar with the people around me,” he said. For Rudolf, the expansive beautiful scenery where everyone lives in harmony with nature can create its own serenity. This is what made Rudolf love painting Indonesia.
Village Scenery expresses the peace and tranquility that the artist feels when enjoying the nature, culture and activities he encountered in Indonesia. He uses a simple technique in depicting forms, but they are usually rich in color. “I like to work in open spaces and immediately paint what I see. Therefore, I quickly became familiar with the people around me,” he said. For Rudolf, the expansive beautiful scenery where everyone lives in harmony with nature can create its own serenity. This is what made Rudolf love painting Indonesia.
Sochieb., M is the Surabaya native whose art has contributed to the visual storytelling of Indonesia’s history. Sochieb was born in 1931 and was catapulted into the Surabaya war of 1945 at the young age of 14. When Indonesia gained independence in August of 1945 freedom emerged nationwide but the incident of the 10th of November is recorded within history as the height of the Surabayan war, now commemorated as the Day of Heroes.
At 31 years old, Sochieb started to paint and was taught by fellow Surabaya native painter, Indraw Hadi Kusuma. Sochieb was an eager learner and was quickly noticed by his naturalist style and depicted subject matter; war. He reflected his traumatic experiences into his art and it translates beautifully as he displayed admirable nationalism and the human complex during difficult times.
He studied painting at The Indonesian Academy of Fine Art (ASRI) Yogyakarta under Hendra Gunawan, Trubus and Soedarso Tutelage. Since 1950, he was actively participated in many exhibitions and handled monumental works for Hotel Indonesia, Ambarukmo Hotel, Satu Maret Monument, Palagan Ambarawa, TMII Historical Monument Relief and Satria Mandala Museum, Jakarta.
Srihady studied at the Art Academy (ASRI, Yogyakarta, continuing his studies at the Vrije Academie Voor Beeldende Kunsten de Vrije Academie Psychopolis Den Haag, the Netherlands. He returned to Indonesia in 1988, after living abroad for 19 years. Those 19 years, commencing in 1969, was initially spent with three years traveling throughout Southeast Asia including Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. In 1972, he went to Europe, where he resided with his family in Den Haag, the Netherlands, until 1988. During his 16 years in the Netherlands, he traveled extensively throughout the continent, traversing to North Africa, the Middle East, and America. It was during this period that he gained international attention, exhibiting his paintings in galleries and museums around the world.
He studied at the Indonesian Art Institute (Institut Seni Indonesia/ISI), Yogyakarta in 1993 - 2003. He has had solo exhibitions among others; Face to Peace, Ode To Art Gallery Singapore, 2015; Memoir of Rice” ICC (International Culture Centre) Pandaan, Surabaya, 2011; Mental Gerilya, Tony Raka Contemporary Gallery, Bali 2010; Wake Up, Willy Valentine Gallery Singapore, 2009; Fragmen, National Gallery, Jakarta, 2008; Batik Gempa Parang Lindu”, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, 2006; Kampuang Nan Den Cinto, Hadiprana Gallery, Kemang, 2005; Ayat-ayat Stefan (Stefanic Versus), Duta Fine Art Gallery, Kemang, Jakarta, 2004; Animal Farm, Gallery 678, Kemang, Jakarta, 2002.
He has participated in group exhibitions since 1993 among others; Persahabatan Malaysia-Indonesia, Prana, KL City gallery, Kuala lumpur, 2020; Manifesto 7 (video daring) Go to Hell Your Covid), Galeri Nasional Jakarta; Lintas Etnis-Japuik Tabao jilid 3, the artists come from Sabang to Merauke, representing various ethnicities, cultures and religious belief, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, 2019; Arstropika, Taman Budaya Palangkaraya; Sica, Syang gallery, Magelang; Lintas Etnis-Japuik Tabao jilid 2, Bentara Budaya Bali, 2017; Festival Kesenian Jogja-FKY, 2016; 65 years of RI-PRC Diplomatic Celebration, Art Museum of China Central academy of fine Arts, Wangjing-Beijing, 2015; Highlight 9 Artist Program Open, Studio FKY 25, Yogyakarta, 2013; The Straight Contour, Kupu-kupu Jimbaran Art Space-Bali, 2013; Romancing Indonesia, Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall, London, 2012; Future and Reality, The 5th Beijing International Art Biennale, The National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China, 2012; Behind the Surface, One East Asia, Singapura, 2012; Kembar Mayang, Widayat Museum, Magelang, 2012; 12 Contemporary Artist an Indonesian Country, UPT Galeri ISI Yogyakarta, 2011; Museum Basoeki Abdullah, Jakarta, 2011; Islamic exhibition Bayang,Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta, 2011; Percakapan Masa, National Gallery Jakarta, 2010; Lesbumi, Kali Opak Pesantren Yogyakarta, 2009; Kaba Rang Rantau, Ego Gallery, Jakarta, 2008; 100 Years Afandi, Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta, 2007; Senirupa Nusantara, National Gallery Jakarta, 2007; Exhibition, Yogyakarta National Museum (Gampingan ISI Yogyakarta), 2006; Art for Aceh, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, 2005; Understanding Language, Siena Gallery, Semarang, 2004; Indofood Award Exhibition, Jakarta, 2003; Indonesia Art Award Exhibition, Jakarta, 2003; 100 days Anniversary of H. Widayat’, Museum Widayat, Magelang, 2002; Bali Artists, Santi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia. Sakato, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, 2001; Trio Exhibition, Kembang Gallery, Jakarta, 2000; A Week Art Festival, Yogyakarta, 1999; Affandi Prize Exhibition, Yogyakarta, 1999; FKY Exhibition, Yogyakarta, 1998, Festival of Abstraction’, Duta Fine Art Gallery, Jakarta, 1998; Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award Exhibition, Jakarta & Bali, 1997; FKY (Yogyakarta Arts Festival), Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, 1996; Dies Natalis ISI, Yogyakarta, 1994; Performing Art, Happening Art Yogyakarta-Solo, 1993.
He has received many awards among others The best Sumatra biennale 1-(Tambud-padang), 2012; Finalist Beijing Biennale, 2012; The Best Artist Museum Week, Batu belah Art Space, Bali, 2012; 12 Famous Indonesian Contemporary Artists in Now exhibition, Galeri UPT ISI Yogyakarta, 2011; Winner Top 25 BACA, Bandung, 2011; Jakarta Art Award Finalist, Jakarta, 2011, Penpoint BATIK GEMPA Parang Lindu, 2007 presentation men, Prof. Dr. Soeprapta Soejono MFA, Osaka University, Japan, 2006; Indofood Finalist, 2003; Indofood Finalist, 2003; Philip Morris Art Award Finalist, 2003, Indofood Finalist, 2002; Beppu Biennale, Japan, 2001, Top 3, Nokia Art Award Jakarta-Bangkok, 2001, Indonesia Finalist in Winsor and Newton World Competition, Bandung, 1999; Best Picture in Dies Natalis ISI XVI, 1998, Best Picture, in exhibition Seni Refleksi Zaman, Benteng Vredeburg, 1999; Finalist of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award, 1997, Yogyakarta Artist, Pekan Seni Mahasiswa, Jakarta, 1995.
Sudarso studied painting with Affandi, Barli, and Hendra Gunawan. He was a member of PUTERA (Central People's Force) in Yogyakarta. Together with Affandi, they founded Himpunan Pelukis Masyarakat, which developed into Himpunan Pelukis Rakyat. He was a lecturer at the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts (ASRI) in Yogyakarta. He has participated in exhibitions in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Bandung, Malaysia and Singapore.
Sudiana began by painting fishing boats. His great interest in painting was unusual in a fishing village, but this did not discourage him from wanting to formally study painting. After finishing Junior High School in Nusa Penida, he bravely moved to Bali to study at the High School of Fine Arts (SMSR). In 1995, he continued his studies at the Fine Arts College of Indonesia (STSI, now the Indonesia Arts Institute, ISI) in Denpasar. Sudiana has been actively in group exhibitions since 1994. He has had solo exhibitions in 2000 and 2003 in Bali. He received the Best Painting Awards among others; finalist in The Phillip Morris Art Award VI from the Indonesian Fine Arts Foundation in 1999; The Contemporary Art Award from the Bandung Institute of Technology in 1997; Best Painting Award from the Kamasra STSI group in 1998, 1996 and 1995.
Sudjono Abdullah, son of Abdullah Suriosubroto, is well known as a landscape painter. A graduate of HIS, he worked as a drafter for the Rex Theatre in Yogyakarta, though also received special order paintings. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, he developed his skill at Parangtritis beach in Yogyakarta. Later, Abdullah moved to Salatiga, where he met with Ho Liong Hwie, who gave him the assistance and motivation that led him to become confident and ultimately famous for his landscapes.
He graduated from Art School of Fine Art Udayana University in 1981. Most of his work is influenced by Arie Smith (well known artist) art works with the naïve figures and view, but he is more special by soft color. He got the object that surrounded his live and stay which is the terrace of that place. He was a lecturer at the Faculty of Art and Design, Udayana University in 1981. He has participated in many group exhibitions since 1979 among others; exhibition at Art Centre - Denpasar in 1979 - 1999; Bali Beach Hotel, 1999; exhibition at Neka Museum, Ubud, Bali, 1991 - 1998; exhibition Gunarsa Museum, Yogyakarta, 1991; Rudana Gallery, Ubud, Bali, 1991 - 1998, Sahadewa Gallery, Ubud, Bali, 1998; exhibition at Bali Museum, Denpasar, 1988 and 1997; exhibition in Kuwait, 1997; exhibition, Sidik Jari Museum, Denpasar, Bali, 1997; exhibition, Bali Art Selection, 1997; exhibition, Campuhan Hotel, Ubud, Bali, 1996; exhibition in America, 1994; exhibition at Japan and Guam, 1991; exhibition at IKIP Surabaya 1990; exhibition, Tanah Lot Hotel, Bali, 1989.
Graduated from School of Fine Art (FSRD) Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta. His first exhibition was Indonesian Art Exhibition in Yogyakarta 1999, then in Osaka Triennale Japan. He has received awards; Osaka 21st Century Association Prize Osaka Triennial, 2001; Second place winner of Indofood Art Awards 2002. Winner of Symbolic category Indofood Art Award 2003; Finalist PMIAA 2000; 1999; 1998.
Tresna mastered the art of painting as a young child from the direct guidance of his father, the renowned painter Hendra Gunawan. Tresna completed his education at the Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia in 1962, and in 1964, joined the Akademi Pertamanan (to study garden landscaping) in Jakarta. In 1974, Tresna designed a 30 meter water fall and created an artificial lake at the Indonesian national cultural exhibition Taman Mini Indonesia Indah at the request of Ibu Tien Suharto, the former Indonesian first lady. Tresna has been very active in the art world, and since 1974, he has participated in many group and solo exhibitions in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Bali and Japan (with SSIA Japan Indonesia). In 2004, Tresna participated in the group exhibition “Learning By Doing” at the Affandi Museum in Yogyakarta.
During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), Trubus Soedarsono studied painting with Sudjojono and Affandi in Jakarta. He was a member of the SIM/ Young Indonesian Artists and Pelukis Rakyat / People's Painters groups in Yogyakarta during the Revolution and produced anti-Dutch propaganda posters. In 1948 he was captured and imprisoned by the Dutch for his revolutionary activities. After his release, he became a lecturer at ASRI/Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts in Yogyakarta from 1950 to 1960. In 1954 he was invited to visit Czechoslovakia on a cultural mission. Soedarsono was later appointed as a member of Yogyakarta's regional government in 1958. In 1966, the artist was killed during the purge which followed the aborted communist coup in September 1965.
He studied at the Indonesian Art Institute in Yogyakarta (Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta).
He learned Batuan painting from 1987 to 1992 in Batuan Village, Bali.
Wayan Wirawan started his career with various exhibition activities starting from 1994 until now, and has held a solo exhibition in 2005. He has received several awards from various institutions, one of the best awards according to him was in 1999 he received the Affandi Prize Art Nomination Award; Participated in Philip Morris Award 1999, and Nokia Award 2000. He earned an award as the best painter at Fine Art Middle High School, Denpasar, Bali.
Zaini started to study painting at the Indonesische Nederlandsche School (INS) at Kayutanam, W. Sumatra. This was the school established by M. Syafei, as well as the site where Wakidi taught. Zaini was not only known as a prominent artist, but he was very active in art organizations. Not long after his move to Jakarta, the country fell under Japanese occupation, and during this time, he became acquainted with the activists of the Poesat Tenaga Rakyat (Poetera). There, he studied art under Basoeki Abdullah and Kusnadi. He was also active with the Keimin Bunka Shidoso, the Japanese center for culture, where he was exposed to the art of S. Sudjojono. After the Indonesian Independence and the return of the Dutch, along with the Allied Forces, Zaini moved to Yogyakarta and joined Seni Rupa Masyarakat, founded by Affandi. Forced to move from Yogyakarta during the Revolutionary War, he joined the Seniman Indonesia Muda, established in Madiun. In the 1960s, Zaini supported the Manifesto Kebudayaan, opposing the domination of the People's Cultural Institution (Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat/Lekra). Since the Jakarta Arts Council (Dewan Kesenian Jakarta/DKJ) was established, he too became an active member until he passed away.