Nasirun and His Artistic Teachers Come Together in Exhibition at National Gallery

JAKARTA, JakartaWeekly.com— The works of Nasirun are being presented alongside works by artists he has regarded as his “teachers” throughout his life in an exhibition titled Nasirun (1965–2026): Bersimpuh di Kaki Para Guru at the National Gallery of Indonesia in Jakarta.

Running from September 13 to October 11, 2026, the exhibition brings together Nasirun’s works with those of artists who have played significant roles in his artistic development. They include Abas Alibasyah, Affandi, Ahmad Sadali, Amang Rachman Jubair, Amri Yahya, Bagong Kussudiardja, Djoko Pekik, Edhi Soenarso, Fadjar Sidik, Harijadi Sumadidjaja, Hendra Gunawan, Jeihan Sukmantoro, Kusnadi, Oesman Effendi, S. Sudjojono, Widayat and Zaini.

In addition to paintings and sculptures, the exhibition features Nasirun’s kopiah, or traditional Muslim cap, as well as personal memorabilia. Together, the works and objects trace the connections between Nasirun’s artistic journey and the artists from whom he drew inspiration and knowledge.

Aminudin TH Siregar, chairman of the National Gallery of Indonesia’s Curatorial Board, said the term “teacher” in the exhibition extends beyond the conventional meaning of someone who teaches in a formal educational setting.

Nasirun, he said, learned from anyone or anything that changed his perspective on art and life.

The word “bersimpuh,” or kneeling, in the exhibition’s title should also not be understood as blind submission, Aminudin said. Instead, it reflects an artist’s willingness to learn and recognize that his artistic identity did not emerge in isolation.

“An artist does not simply emerge from and because of himself,” Aminudin said.

The exhibition also presents the relationship between teacher and student as one that is not necessarily fixed. Someone who learns at one point in life may later become a source of knowledge for others.

The exhibition therefore explores how artistic knowledge moves across generations. Such knowledge can be received, reinterpreted, questioned, transformed and transmitted in different forms.

Nasirun is known for incorporating tradition and spirituality into his contemporary art. Wayang stories and mystical tales passed down by his mother, along with the Sufi Islamic values practiced by his father, have shaped the background of his artistic development.

A graduate of the Batik Craft Art and Fine Art programs at ASRI/ISI Yogyakarta in 1994, Nasirun has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Indonesia and abroad.

One of his works, “Persembahan untuk Bathara Guru” (1999), was donated to the National Gallery of Indonesia in 2013 and is now part of the state collection.

The exhibition “Nasirun (1965–2026): Bersimpuh di Kaki Para Guru” is curated by the National Gallery of Indonesia’s Curatorial Board, comprising Aminudin TH Siregar, Agung Hujatnikajennong, Citra Smara Dewi and Dio Pamola Chandra.

The exhibition opened on September 12, 2026, and is open to the public from September 13 through October 11, 2026, except Mondays.