Painter Amri gets doctorate

YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta State University (UNY) awarded on Thursday an honorary doctorate to well-known batik painter Amri Yahya in recognition of his promotion of batik arts, his dedication to the arts, and his outstanding works.

UNY is the first Indonesian university to bestow an honorary doctorate on the artist.

The late expressionist painter Affandi received a similar award from the National University of Singapore.

According to Suyanto, rector of UNY, the honoring of Amri Yahya was part of the university's commitment to upholding national education and character-building.

Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, noted poet Taufiq Ismail, Yogyakarta governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and South Sumatra's governor Rosihan Arsyad, as well as the members of the university's academic council, were in attendance at the ceremony.

"The style of Amri's paintings has inspired many artists since the 1970s. His works have also been internationally acclaimed. A large number of his works have joined the collections of world figures," said Suminto A. Sayuti, the dean of UNY's School of Arts and Languages.

Amri, who was born in Sukaraja, South Sumatra on Sept. 29, 1939, said that he had never dreamed of receiving such an award during his life. (23)