National Gallery Collection Exhibition Opens at Vredeburg Museum

Yogyakarta — The Museum and Cultural Heritage unit of the Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud) is showcasing 2cap 28 selected artworks from the National Gallery of Indonesia collection at the Vredeburg Fort Museum in Yogyakarta, running from 27 June to 30 August 2026.

“This exhibition features the collection of the National Gallery of Indonesia in Jakarta, which is part of the Museum and Cultural Heritage Public Service Agency (BLU),” said the Head of the Ministry of Culture’s Museum and Cultural Heritage, Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, following the exhibition’s opening in Yogyakarta on Saturday.

The exhibition, titled “From Sudjojono to Murniasih: Selected Works from the National Gallery of Indonesia Collection,” comprises 28 artworks, including 23 paintings, four sculptures, and one graphic work, representing 28 different Indonesian artists.

“For the first time since the establishment of the Museum and Cultural Heritage BLU four years ago, we are holding a collaborative exhibition between units, specifically between the National Gallery and the Vredeburg Fort Museum, as part of the art celebration month in Yogya,” she stated.

She expressed hope that the exhibition at the Vredeburg Fort Museum would position Yogyakarta as a global focal point for the Indonesian art world, coinciding with the vibrancy of Jogja Art Weeks and various other art agendas that establish the city as a primary destination for art enthusiasts.

“It would be a great shame if the National Gallery’s rich fine arts collection remained unseen. We have a venue in Yogya, namely the Vredeburg Fort Museum, and we wanted to participate in this fine arts month in Yogya,” she added.

“This is an opportunity to showcase the National Gallery’s collection through a travelling exhibition, with Yogyakarta being one of the chosen locations, timed perfectly with the art celebrations in the city.”

Through the exhibition at the Vredeberg Fort Museum, curated by Aminudin TH Siregar, Agung Hujatnikajennong, Citra Smara Dewi, and Dio Pamola Chandra, it is hoped that public access to significant works of Indonesian fine art will be expanded.

“Through this cooperation, the public can directly enjoy the works of Indonesian maestros and artists without having to travel to Jakarta. This collaboration serves as an important momentum to bring fine arts closer to a wider audience,” she said.

Exhibition curator Aminudin TH Siregar noted that this selection of works from the National Gallery marks more than just a chronological transition from modern to contemporary art; it also reflects the ongoing shift in the meaning of freedom.

By presenting works from the National Gallery that represent this long span of time, he stated that the exhibition affirms that Indonesian fine art does not merely reflect its society.

“Indonesian fine art continues to expand the boundaries of what the public is able or willing to see,” he concluded.