Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The cancellation of artist Yos Suprapto solo painting exhibition at the National Gallery in Jakarta has ignited controversy. Many critics accuses authorities of censorship over the artist’s works, which include sharp social and political commentary.
Indonesia senior artist, Yos Suprapto was set to open his solo painting exhibitons at the national Gallery Jakarta. The exhibitions were scheduled for a month, from Desember 20, 2024, to January 19, 2025.
Accordingt to CNN Indonesia, the dispute centered around five out of 30 paintings that sparked disagreements between the artist and curator. The curator request to remove these five pieces ultimately led Yos to withdraw from the exhibition entirely.
Yos Suprapto’s Withdrawal
Yos Suprapto stated that the issue began when Suwarno, the appointed curator, requested the removal of five paintings depicting figures familiar to the Indonesian public.
“Up until just hours before the exhibition was set to open, I was still being asked to take down these five works,” Yos Suprapto said, as reported by CNN Indonesia, on December 20. “These paintings narrate the core theme of the exhibition—food sovereignty. The curator failed to see this narrative.”
Yos initially agreed to cover two of the paintings with black cloth, but when asked to remove three more, he decided to pull out entirely. “If those five paintings had to be taken down, I would rather cancel the entire exhibition and return all the works to Yogyakarta,” he said.
“I suspect the curator was acting out of fear—fear of political backlash or government reprisal. Even the Minister of Culture, who was scheduled to attend, had not seen the paintings yet.”
Therefore, Yos made it clear he no longer wished to work with the National Gallery or the Ministry of Culture.
Curator’s Explanation
The disagreement reportedly began in October 2024 during the curatorial process. It was remained unresolved by the exhibition’s scheduled opening on December 19.
In a written statement, curator Suwarno Wisetrotomo addressed the controversy. He state that two of the paintings contained overly personal criticisms of power dynamics. Thus, he felt the painting clashed with the exhibition’s theme, “Awakening: Land for Food Sovereignty.”
“I informed the artist that these works did not align with the curatorial theme and risked overshadowing the exhibition’s powerful core message,” Suwarno said. Added that he felt the pieces overly explicit and lacked the metaphorical subtlety often central to impactful art.
“As no mutual understanding was reached, I informed the artist—witnessed by National Gallery staff—that while I respected his stance, I would step down as curator,” Suwarno stated.
Suwarno clarified that his resignation was not intended to halt the exhibition but stemmed from irreconcilable differences.
National Gallery’s Response
The National Gallery responded to the issue in an official statement on social media. The Gallery cited “unavoidable technical issues” as the reason for postponing the exhibition.
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Acknowledging public disappointment, the Gallery apologized and insisted that the decision was made after careful consideration. “This decision was made to ensure the quality of the exhibition experience we aim to deliver,” the statement read.
The National Gallery also emphasized its longstanding relationship with Yos Suprapto, dating back to the early 2000s. While the Gallery also expressed hope for continued collaboration with the artist.
“We remain committed to constructive dialogue with Yos Suprapto to resolve this matter and ensure meaningful future cooperation,” the statement concluded.
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about artistic freedom. The Incident has questioned the role of public institutions in fostering open expression in Indonesia’s art scene.
(Raidi/Agung)
