A vibrant showcase of creativity and collaboration, inspiring hope, harmony, and a sustainable future through powerful visual storytelling

The sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has reemerged in the public eye through his artwork. Through the SBY Art Community, an organization he founded after his presidency, SBY is promoting messages of peace and global sustainability with the ongoing art exhibition Art for Peace and a Better Future. The exhibition features 31 works of art, including eight of SBY’s own paintings, and is held at Ashta District 8, SCBD, South Jakarta, running from September 7 to October 5, 2025.

The opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including government ministers and Ragowo Hediprasetyo Djojohadikusumo, also known as Didit, the son of President Prabowo Subianto. SBY, now a professional painter, emphasized that art is a universal language capable of bringing people together and conveying important messages of humanity.

Among SBY’s latest works is a painting titled Stop War, United for Peace, which draws attention to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the genocide against Palestinians while also critiquing the repeated inaction of international institutions. The painting exemplifies how art can serve as a tool for reflection and commentary on pressing global humanitarian issues.

The exhibition features a collaboration between four leading art institutions in Indonesia: the Faculty of Art and Design ITB, Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta, ISI Surakarta, and the Jakarta Institute of Arts. Additionally, five independent professional painters, including SBY himself, participate, creating a visual dialogue that blends themes of humanity and environmental awareness.

Curated by Suwarno Wisetrotomo and Rizki Akhmad Zaelani, both experienced national curators, the exhibition highlights the role of art as a medium for reflecting on humanitarian and environmental issues while also serving as an educational platform for visitors.

As part of the opening, SBY applied paint to a white canvas, which will later be developed into a collaborative work by all members of the SBY Art Community at Gelanggang Olahraga Lavani Cikeas. The exhibition is open to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and aims to enrich Indonesia’s art scene while reminding visitors of the importance of peace and sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

By combining creativity, institutional collaboration, and powerful moral messages, Art for Peace and a Better Future demonstrates that art is not only a form of aesthetic expression but also a compelling way to inspire society to uphold peace and envision a better future.

photo source: instagram.com/agusyudhoyono, instagram.com/sbyartcommunity and instagram.com/teukuriefky

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