Most present-day Indonesians remember Prince Diponegoro as an early nineteenth-century freedom fighter who led the Javanese in their fight against Dutch colonialism known as the Java War (1825-30). Others see the Java War leader as primarily a Yogyakarta prince whose image can be found in classrooms throughout Indonesia alongside other national heroes. The exhibition “A Prince For All Seasons: Diponegoro in the Memory of the Nation, from Raden Saleh to the Present” revisits the extraordinary story of Diponegoro (1785-1855), as presented through the eyes of classical painters, contemporary artists as well as the general public.
Curated by Dr Werner Kraus, Jim Supangkat and Dr Peter Carey, the exhibition is divided into three sections, each representing a different approach to Diponegoro. Raden Saleh’s newly restored painting “The Arrest of Prince Diponegoro” (1857) is at the heart of the exhibition, complemented by a number of paintings by Indonesian masters from the early independence period. A photo and video documentation explains the meticulous restoration process. A second section gives the opportunity for a number of contemporary Indonesian artists to present their own contemporary approach to the figure of Diponegoro. The third section highlights everyday items connected to Diponegoro, such as woodcuts, comic books, bank notes and installations, while the additional “heirloom” room contains a number of personal artefacts of Diponegoro.
The historic exhibition is a joint cooperation between the Goethe-Institut, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, the German Embassy in Indonesia, Arsari Foundation, Erasmus Huis, Galeri Antara and Universitas Paramadina.
Come and visit the exhibition from 6 February to 8 March 2015 at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia. A series of fringe events, such as panel discussions and workshops, will complement this landmark exhibit.
Side Program Handouts
(PDF, 764 KB) only in Bahasa Indonesia.
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