Tiga Gadis Minahasa (Three Minahasan Girls) , 1949

Oil on canvas
67 x 87 cm
Collection of Galeri Nasional Indonesia

 

About the Artist

Henk Ngantung, as one of the members of PERSAGI, was very active in the struggle for independence. One of his paintings, Sang Pemanah (The Archer), hung on the balcony of Sukarno’s house on Jalan Pegangsaan Timur. The Indonesian proclamation of Independence was declared opposite this painting. In 1946, Henk was one of the founders of Gelanggang Seniman Merdeka (Free Artists Association) which was an organisation for artists from the 1945 Generation. In 1957, Henk was in the National Council (Dewan Nasional) and was active in Lekra and Lesrupa. He was the governor of Jakarta in 1964, before being forced to step down owing to his involvement with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).


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