National Gallery Honors Indonesian Artist Nasirun

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture has opened an exhibition honoring the late Indonesian artist Nasirun at the National Gallery of Indonesia in Jakarta. Titled “Nasirun (1965–2026): Bersimpuh di Kaki Para Guru,” the exhibition pays tribute to the artist while fulfilling his wish to exhibit his works alongside artists he regarded as his teachers.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, officially opened the exhibition on September 12, 2026, describing it as an important tribute to an artist who held deep respect for earlier generations of Indonesian artists. Nasirun died on August 1, 2026, leaving behind a body of work that brought together tradition, spirituality, everyday life, and ideas of modernity.

Fadli said Nasirun’s respect for his artistic predecessors was reflected not only in his works but also in his efforts to preserve and appreciate the works of artists who influenced his artistic journey. “This exhibition is highly relevant as a tribute to the late Nasirun. I have known him for more than a decade and saw how he always respected his teachers,” he said.

According to him, Nasirun demonstrated how an artist can transform diverse sources of knowledge into distinctive artistic expressions. “With his extraordinary aesthetic and artistic achievements, we have indeed lost a major figure in Indonesian art,” he said, highlighting Nasirun’s exploration of tradition, spirituality, reality, and modernity through different artistic mediums.

The exhibition also highlights Nasirun’s commitment to learning and passing knowledge on to younger generations. In 2025, he served as one of the mentors in the Ministry of Culture’s Belajar Bersama Maestro program, allowing selected participants to live and learn alongside him while developing their own artistic works.

Curated by the National Gallery’s curatorial board, the exhibition places Nasirun’s works alongside those of artists who influenced his artistic development, including Affandi, Ahmad Sadali, Bagong Kussudiardja, Djoko Pekik, Hendra Gunawan, Jeihan Sukmantoro, S. Sudjojono, Widayat, and Zaini. The presentation invites visitors to explore how artistic knowledge is passed across generations through learning, encounters, and dialogue.

Born in 1965, Nasirun was a graduate of Batik Craft and Fine Arts at ASRI/ISI Yogyakarta and became known for incorporating Indonesian traditions and spirituality into contemporary art. His artistic influences included wayang stories and folktales passed down by his mother, as well as Islamic Sufi values practiced by his father.

The exhibition runs from September 13 to October 11, 2026, providing the public with an opportunity to remember Nasirun’s artistic journey and explore the cultural knowledge he inherited and passed on. Fadli Zon expressed hope that younger generations would continue Nasirun’s spirit of creating, learning, and sharing knowledge. “Hopefully, new Nasiruns will emerge, as he was deeply dedicated to sharing his experience and knowledge with younger generations," he said.