Title: Controversy Erupts as Yos Suprapto‘s Art Exhibition "Kebangkitan: Tanah untuk Kedaulatan Pangan" is Abruptly Cancelled
In a surprising turn of events, the much-awaited solo art exhibition of renowned Yogyakarta-based artist Yos Suprapto was suddenly cancelled just minutes before its opening on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia. The exhibition, titled "Kebangkitan: Tanah untuk Kedaulatan Pangan," was expected to showcase 30 of Suprapto’s paintings.
The cancellation, announced through a press release received by Tempo around 10 minutes before the scheduled opening, was attributed to "unavoidable technical issues" by the Galeri Nasional. However, the real reason behind the abrupt cancellation appeared to be more complex.
The Dispute Over Controversial Paintings
Yos Suprapto revealed that the cancellation was a result of the curator’s request to remove five paintings from the exhibition. These paintings, deemed controversial due to their connection to a prominent Indonesian figure, were not to Suprapto’s liking. He refused to comply with the request, leading to the entire exhibition’s cancellation.
"I won’t compromise on my art. I’m taking all my paintings back to Yogyakarta. I’m done with Galeri Nasional and the Ministry of Culture," Suprapto asserted.
The Ministry’s Stance: No Censorship, but Inappropriate Content
Menteri Kebudayaan Fadli Zon refuted claims of censorship, stating, "There’s no suppression or censorship. We support freedom of expression." However, he explained that the cancellation was due to some paintings not aligning with the exhibition’s theme. Some of Suprapto’s works were criticized for their political undertones and explicit content, including depictions of nude figures engaging in sexual acts.
Fadli also mentioned that Suprapto had hung his paintings without the curator’s approval, leading to disagreements. "This isn’t a new process. Mediation had taken place before," Fadli added.
Fadli Zon Condemns Vulgar Content in Suprapto’s Paintings
During a press conference at the Museum Nasional in Jakarta on Friday, December 20, 2024, Fadli Zon criticized several of Suprapto’s paintings for containing vulgar and inappropriate content, including depictions of people engaging in sexual acts. These paintings, along with others deemed too political or offensive, were cited as reasons for the exhibition’s cancellation.
One particular painting that sparked controversy featured a nude figure wearing traditional Javanese attire, which Fadli believed could offend certain groups due to its sensitive nature related to ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations (SARA).
Galeri Nasional Locked Down Minutes Before Opening
Just minutes before the exhibition’s opening, Galeri Nasional’s glass doors were locked, and the lights were turned off, surprising the gathered audience. The curator had initially asked Suprapto to remove five paintings related to a specific Indonesian figure, but Suprapto’s refusal led to the cancellation of the entire exhibition.
Suprapto had previously accepted a request to cover two of his paintings, Konoha I and Konoha II, with black cloth. However, a few hours later, the request expanded to include three more paintings, leading Suprapto to decide to take back all his works.
"I see this as censorship. I won’t stand for it. I’m done with Galeri Nasional and the Ministry of Culture," Suprapto declared, expressing his disappointment at the incident that threatened artistic freedom of expression.
Contributed by Iwan Kurniawan and Ikhsan Reliubun. Editor’s pick: Profil Galeri Nasional Indonesia yang Tutup Sementara Pasca Pembredelan Pameran Lukisan Yos Suprapto
