SRIHADI SOEDARSONO

An artist at the forefront of Indonesian modern art since the 1950s, Srihadi Soedarsono (b. 1931) is celebrated for his sweeping landscapes and iconic portrayals of Indonesian dancers. His appreciation for Javanese culture was deeply moulded by his grandfather, who introduced him to traditional art forms such as wayang, keris and batik at a young age. With thick brushstrokes and intense colours, the Surakarta-born artist developed a distinct style that captures the spirituality and richness of folk culture.

Soedarsono’s landscape paintings are often inspired by monumental sites such as Mount Merapi and Borobudur. Inviting reflection, his works draw focus to the expansive horizon and command a sense of stillness. His depictions of Javanese and Balinese dancers, in contrast, propound the energy and dynamism of movement. Rather than being identified as individuals, his figures typify and immortalise the spirit of Indonesian dance.

In the 1940s, Soedarsono was an active member of the Seniman Indonesia Muda (SIM, Young Indonesian Artists) and produced propaganda posters alongside S. Soedjojono and Affandi. After graduating from the Intstitut Teknologi Bandung (ITB, Bandung Institute of Technology) in 1959, he obtained a master’s degree at Ohio University in 1962, where he was exposed to Abstract Expressionist paintings. Throughout his artistic career, he also became a professor at ITB and earned numerous achievements such as the Arts Award from the Republic of Indonesia in 1971 and a Cultural Award from the Government of Australia in 1973.