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This great painter, born in Kisaran, North Sumatra, December 14, 1913, is very good at painting techniques with quality paintings. He is a teacher for several Indonesian painters. In addition, he has extensive knowledge of fine arts. He is the first art critic in Indonesia.
He was a nationalist who showed his personality through colors and choice of subjects. As an art critic, he often criticized Basoeki Abdullah as unnationalistic, because he painted beautiful women and natural scenery. So Pak Djon and Basuki were considered as sworn enemies, like water and fire, since 1935.
Getting to Know Indonesian Fine Arts Figures - Pak Djon
But a few months before Pak Djon died in Jakarta, March 25, 1985, businessman Ciputra brought Pak Djon and Basuki together with Painter Affandi in a joint exhibition at the Ancol Art Market, Jakarta. So that the Minister of Education and Culture Fuad Hassan, at that time, called the joint exhibition of the three giants of painting an important historical event.
Pak Djon was born into a transmigrant family from Java, a plantation worker in Kisaran, the King of Batak Warriors against the Dutch Colonialists of North Sumatra. However, since the age of four, he became a foster child. Yudhokusumo, a teacher at HIS, where little Djon went to school, saw his intelligence and talent and adopted him as a son. Yudhokusumo then took him to Batavia in 1925.
Djon graduated from HIS in Jakarta. Then junior high school in Bandung and Taman Siswa High School in the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia (1972-1978) Yogyakarta. He also took a mechanic course before studying painting with RM Pirngadie for several months and Japanese painter Chioji Yazaki in Jakarta. In fact, at first he was more preparing himself to become a teacher than a painter. He taught at Taman Siswa. After graduating from Taman Guru at the Taman Siswa College of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia (1972-1978) Yogyakarta, he was assigned by the first Minister of Education, Teaching and Culture Ki Hajar Dewantara to open a new school in Rogojampi, Madiun in 1931.
However, Sudjojono who was talented in painting and read a lot about modern European painting, finally chose the path of life as a painter. In 1937, he also participated in an exhibition with European painters at Kunstkring Jakarya, Jakarta. His participation in the exhibition was the beginning of his name becoming popular as a painter. Together with a number of painters, he founded Persagi (Association of Indonesian Picture Experts), 1937. A union that was later considered the beginning of modern Indonesian art. He had been the secretary and spokesperson for Persagi.
Sudjojono, besides being skilled at painting, also wrote and gave many lectures on the development of modern painting. He advocated and disseminated ideas, views and attitudes about painting, painters and the role of art in society in his many writings. Therefore, the community of painters gave him the title: Father of New Indonesian Painting.
His paintings have a characteristic roughness, scratches and strokes as if poured onto the canvas. The objects of his paintings are more prominent in natural scenery, human figures, and atmosphere. The selection of objects is more based on spiritual relationships, love, and sympathy so that they appear modest. His monumental paintings include: In Front of an Open Mosquito Net, Cap Go Meh, Refugees and Seko.
In the arts and culture community, Djon then joined Lekra, then joined the PKI. He was elected to represent the party in parliament. However, in 1957, he defected. One of the reasons was that for him the existence of God was positive, while the PKI had not been able to provide a positive answer to that. In addition, there was another reason that he did not reveal which was also suspected to be the cause of Djon divorcing his first wife, Mia Bustam. Then he remarried a Seriosa singer, Rose Pandanwangi. His wife's name was then immortalized in the name of Sanggar Pandanwangi. From his marriage he was blessed with 14 children.
In the midst of his busy schedule, he diligently exercises. Even in his youth, Djon joined the Young Indonesia team, as an outside left, with Maladi (former Minister of Information and Sports) as a goalkeeper and Pelukis Rusli as an outside right.
That is Djon who since 1958 has lived entirely from painting. He also does not hesitate to accept orders, as a professional and halal way to earn money. The orders are also an opportunity to practice making shapes, colors and compositions.
There are several commissioned works that he is proud of. Among them, the commissioned work of the Governor of DKI, which depicts the battle scene of Sultan Agung against Jan Pieterszoon Coen, 1973. This painting measures 300310 meters, it is displayed at the DKI Fatahillah Museum.
Professionally, the recipient of the 1970 Art Award, enjoyed great popularity as a renowned painter. His works were sought after by many people with very high prices at overseas auction houses. Even after he died on March 25, 1985 in Jakarta, his works were still exhibited in several places, including: Festival of Indonesia (USA, 1990-1992); Gate Foundation (Amsterdam, Holland, 1993); Singapore Art Museum (1994); Center for Strategic and International Studies (Jakarta, Indonesia, 1996); ASEAN Masterworks (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1997-1998).
Source
www.tokohindonesia.com