Revolusi! Indonesia Independent

4 February 2022

Poster with inscription 'Perlawanan seluruh rakjat pokok kemenang revolusi', (detail; 1945-49). Museum Bronbeek.

Indonesian society was transformed during the revolution of 1945–49, with which it gained independence from the Dutch colonial empire. Artists were instrumental in realising a new national identity through both official paintings and street art; paintings, posters and pamphlets from those heady years are on display in this exhibition at the Rijksmuseum (11 February–5 June). Contemporary artist Timoteus Anggawan Kusno has been commissioned to create an artwork responding to objects from the Rijksmuseum’s collection. Find out more from the Rijksmuseum’s website.

Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here

Kawan kawan revolusi (1947), Sudjojono. Collection of the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia.

Kawan kawan revolusi (1947), Sudjojono. Collection of the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia.

Three young Indonesians on a street. Two of them are Republican volunteers from Sulawesi, members of the armed youth organisation KRIS, on leave in Yogyakarta, December 1947, Hugo Wilmar.

Three young Indonesians in Yogyakarta, December 1947. Photo: Hugo Wilmar.

Indonesian freedom fighters (1946-1947), Otto Djaya.

Indonesian freedom fighters (1946–47), Otto Djaya. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Proklamasi August 17 1945, Frans-Mendur.

Sukarno declaring the independence of Indonesia on 17 August 1945, photographed by Frans Mendur.

Poster with inscription 'Perlawanan seluruh rakjat pokok kemenang revolusi', (1945-49).

Revolutionary poster (1945–49), Indonesia. Museum Bronbeek.