Affandi

(b. 1907 – 1990, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia)

Affandi Koesoema was one of Indonesia’s most celebrated artists, representing the country at major international biennales and exhibiting worldwide, despite his very modest beginnings. With no formal art training, he taught himself to paint by studying magazine reproductions while working various jobs, including as a teacher, ticket collector, and house painter. He saved leftover paint from these jobs to create his own works, eventually gaining enough recognition to become a full-time artist and support his family. By the 1930s and 1940s, Affandi had become a central figure in Indonesian art, joining and co-founding influential artist groups such as Kelompok Lima Bandung, Seniman Indonesia Muda, Sanggar Pelukis Rakyat, and Gabungan Pelukis Indonesia. A major turning point came in 1949 when a grant allowed him to live, study, and exhibit in India, followed by exhibitions in Europe that solidified his international reputation.

Affandi is best known for his highly expressive painting style, characterized by squeezing paint directly from the tube in bold, dynamic strokes. This raw, spontaneous technique created works filled with immediacy and emotional intensity, often completed in a single session. Breaking away from the calm, idealized landscapes of the Mooi Indies tradition, Affandi’s paintings conveyed powerful human experiences, including suffering and struggle. Though not naturalistic in style, his work remained deeply connected to reality, frequently reflecting the hardships faced by Indonesians during the period of Dutch colonial rule.