The Hidden Treasures of Sudjana Kerton

The Hidden Treasures of Sudjana Kerton presents a rare and intimate look into the life and work of one of Indonesia’s most distinctive modern artists. Organised by Sanggar Luhur, Sudjana Kerton’s studio-gallery in Bandung, and held at Art:1 New Museum in Jakarta, the exhibition brings together a significant selection of Kerton’s works, many of which are being exhibited publicly for the first time.

Curated by Dr. Sadiah Boonstra, the exhibition traces Kerton’s wide-ranging artistic journey: from his early revolutionary sketches during Indonesia’s fight for independence, to the vibrant, imaginative paintings of his later years. Kerton’s practice straddled art and activism, documentation and reflection. His works capture historical moments, the daily lives of ordinary people, and the shifting identities of a postcolonial nation.

This exhibition not only reintroduces Kerton as a painter and visual historian, but also questions why his contributions have long remained under-recognised in the narrative of Indonesian modern art. By re-examining his legacy, The Hidden Treasures of Sudjana Kerton invites us to reflect on how history is remembered, and the role artists play in shaping cultural memory.