Headline:
Artist’s Solo Exhibition at Indonesian National Gallery Cancelled Hours Before Opening: Yos Suprapto Seeks Clarity
Subheadline:
Controversy surrounds a solo exhibition by Yos Suprapto, "Resurgence: Land for Food Sovereignty," which was abruptly cancelled just hours before opening.
Article:
JAKARTA — A solo exhibition by renowned Indonesian artist Yos Suprapto, "Resurgence: Land for Food Sovereignty," was abruptly cancelled just two hours before its scheduled opening at the Indonesian National Gallery (Galeri Nasional) on December 19. A statement from the gallery’s Instagram account cited "technical issues that could not be avoided" as the reason for the delay.
Suprapto, a prominent artist from Yogyakarta, expressed frustration and disappointment in an interview with VOA, detailing the series of events leading up to the cancellation. The exhibition, which opened to the public on December 19 after being postponed, has sparked intense debate about artistic expression and censorship in Indonesia.
Preparation and Initial Disagreements
The artist revealed that the exhibition’s setup was unusual from the start. Typically, a curator would be present during the installation of the artwork, but in this instance, curator Suwarno Wisetrotomo was absent when Suprapto and his team hung the paintings on December 13. Four days later, Suwarno asked for two paintings to be removed, claiming they were not relevant to the exhibition’s theme.
One of the paintings in question depicted a farming figure that bore a resemblance to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, portrayed with a wide-brimmed hat and feeding a sturdy, well-dressed man with a prestigious watch and an expensive ring. Suprapto insisted that the painting was symbolic and represented a commentary on the relationship between power and food sovereignty.
Last-Minute Demands
Hours before the exhibition’s opening, Suprapto was called by the gallery’s curatorial staff and the gallery’s director. They demanded that three additional paintings be removed from the exhibit. One of the paintings depicted a farmer who resembled President Widodo, wearing a farmers’ hat and feeding a rotund man wearing a luxurious watch and an opulent ring.
When Suprapto refused, he claims that the exhibition was cancelled. He also revealed that he was locked out of the gallery and could not retrieve his paintings. "I refuse to let this go and will take legal action," Suprapto stated.
Seeking Help and Media Fallout
Suprapto has sought assistance from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to obtain clarity about the cancellation and retrieve his artwork. He strongly objects to the statements made by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Deputy Minister Giring Ganesha, who expressed their opinions about his artwork without even seeing it.
"Giring Ganesha even called my artwork ‘stupid’ and lacking in aesthetic value, saying it only depicted hatred and anger," Suprapto said in an interview. "It’s a lie. He didn’t even see the painting himself; he just believed the curator’s report and made a decision based on that. This is ridiculous and inaccurate. It’s embarrassing to hear such remarks from a government official."
Past Collaborations
This is not the first time Suprapto has held a solo exhibition at the Indonesian National Gallery. In 2001 and 2017, he exhibited more politically charged works without any issues. Suprapto lamented the gallery’s management and the government’s stance on the matter, stating, "Artistic expression cannot be viewed through political lenses alone. It requires an understanding of aesthetics, not just politics."
Gallery’s Response
In a subsequent statement, Galeri Nasional claimed that the exhibition was postponed due to three main reasons. First, the curator, Suwarno Wisetrotomo, resigned due to disagreements over the relevance of two paintings to the exhibition’s theme. Second, the gallery aimed to maintain the quality and consistency of its exhibitions by ensuring that the artworks were relevant to the designated theme. Third, the gallery respected the curatorial process and would provide further updates on the exhibition’s future plans.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon dismissed claims that the exhibition was censored, asserting that the artwork did not comply with the exhibition’s theme. He also argued that certain paintings might offend specific individuals, ethnic groups, or cultures and would therefore fall into the category of pornography.
Throughout this controversy, Suprapto remains determined to regain control of his paintings and ensure that his artwork is exhibited without interference from political influence or censorship.
Keep reading