Urban transition through Indonesian art: from the Generation of ‘66 to the Millennials

Abstract

This article discusses the representation of Jakarta and other cities in the work of Indonesian visual artists. These artists document not only urban landscapes as such, but also the ideas, lifestyles and creative forms of expression of different generations of Indonesians, including artists themselves. I argue that the urban visualisations demonstrate the opportunities for and limits to social engagement in Indonesian art at different points in time. They also provide insight into the relevance of the very idea of a ‘generation’ in Indonesian social and intellectual history. I examine in detail how S. Sudjojono’s urban paintings have visualised Jakarta’s changing material infrastructure in ..