National Gallery Collection Showcased in Yogyakarta

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - For the first time, the National Gallery of Indonesia has brought part of its collection to Benteng Vredeburg Museum, Yogyakarta, presenting 28 selected works from June 27 to August 30, 2026.

The exhibition, titled “From Sudjojono to Murniasih: Selected Works from the National Gallery of Indonesia”, features 23 paintings, four sculptures, and one graphic work by 28 Indonesian artists.

Head of the Ministry of Culture’s Museum and Cultural Heritage division, Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, said the exhibition marks a milestone in collaboration between cultural institutions.

“This is the first collaborative exhibition since the BLU Museum and Cultural Heritage was established four years ago, coinciding with Yogyakarta’s art celebration month,” she explained, as quoted by Antara.

Indira emphasized that Yogyakarta, already vibrant with Jogja Art Weeks and other cultural events, deserves greater access to the National Gallery’s rich collection.

She noted that the exhibition is intended not as a one-off, but as the beginning of regular showcases to bring lesser-known works to wider audiences.

Curated by Aminudin TH Siregar, Agung Hujatnikajennong, Citra Smara Dewi, and Dio Pamola Chandra, the exhibition aims to expand public access to Indonesia’s art heritage.

“Through this collaboration, people can enjoy masterpieces without having to travel to Jakarta. It is an important step in bringing art closer to society,” Indira said.

Curator Aminudin TH Siregar added that the exhibition reflects more than a chronological transition from modern to contemporary art. It also highlights shifts in the meaning of freedom and the evolving boundaries of what Indonesian art can express.

“Indonesian art continues to expand the limits of what society is willing or able to see,” he concluded. ***

The exhibition underscores Yogyakarta’s role as a cultural hub, while reinforcing the National Gallery’s mission to make Indonesia’s artistic treasures accessible across the country. ***