The Story of Kibar, the 76-Year-Old Painter Struggling to Repay Hundreds of Millions in Debt

Artist from Yogyakarta, Suhardiyono Kibar, is determined to repay his family’s debt through his paintings. Instead of begging for alms, the 76-year-old Kibar is struggling to save his family’s inherited land from the threat of bank seizure due to a Rp500 million debt.

“I am just professional. I don’t need donations. I am still capable of painting,” said Kibar when met at his joglo house in the Ngemplak area on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

Kibar recounted that his love for the art world has grown since childhood. He started drawing while in primary school, even willing to skip other lessons to pursue his hobby.

“Since primary school, I have enjoyed drawing. Even physical education lessons I skipped because I preferred drawing,” he said.

His artistic journey was not instant. He tried various styles, from abstract to sculpture. However, he finally chose the realist style because it is considered easier for many people to appreciate.

“I have tried everything. But I choose realist, because everyone can enjoy it,” he explained.

He also briefly tried the profession of teacher, but only lasted one month. Kibar then firmly chose the path of life as a painter.

“I once taught, but only for one month. I don’t want to be a teacher, I want to paint,” he said.

For decades, Kibar claimed to have supported his family from the proceeds of selling paintings. Some of his works have even been exhibited, including solo exhibitions in recent years.

However, trials came one after another. Besides being burdened with hundreds of millions of rupiah in debt under his name, the house he occupied in the Banguntapan area also suffered severe damage until it collapsed.

“My house collapsed, badly damaged. When it rains, it’s scary,” he said.

Amid those conditions, Kibar once suffered from vertigo and had to receive treatment. He then contacted Prof Ali Agus when his condition was down.

“I called his son, but Prof Ali answered at that time. I was sick with vertigo then. The world was spinning, until I vomited,” he said.

From there, communication continued until Kibar was offered to occupy a house in the Ngemplak area.

He welcomed the offer, especially since the condition of his old house was no longer habitable. Kibar admitted he was very happy when he first saw the house. He has occupied the joglo since two months ago.

“I rolled around because I was so happy,” he said.

Now, he feels more at ease because he has a decent place to live as well as space to continue creating. In his new home, he is also facilitated to paint.

“Here I am happy, I can create again,” he said.

Some of his paintings are now being gradually moved to his new residence, although some are still entrusted to several places.

“Yes, some are still there (Banguntapan) being looked after. Some are here, some I entrusted to friends,” he said.

The paintings he produces are varied, from national figures to world figures. Among them are paintings of Soekarno in various sizes, Gajah Mada, Prince Diponegoro in large and small sizes, to works depicting Prabowo Subianto with a cat, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Mother Teresa.

Amid those conditions, Kibar is still trying to resolve his debt issue by selling paintings. He claimed he did not use the borrowed money, but still chose to take responsibility.

“Yes, actually the loan is around Rp500 (million) in the end. Maybe Rp400 (million) to Rp500 (million),” he said.

“The debt-lending issue, basically it’s not my fault but my relatives who used the money, (borrowed) using my name, I didn’t know,” he added.

Even though the time given by the bank keeps running, Kibar chooses to remain steadfast in his path as a painter. Now he only has 2 months left before the bank’s deadline expires.

“The point is, it’s okay, I have to settle it. With my works, I will settle it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Atsir Mahatma Adam, one of Kibar’s support team, explained that initially Kibar came to Prof Ali to tell about his condition. The team then moved and directly checked Kibar’s residence.

“Pak Kibar told about that condition and Prof Ali then assigned me. I was assigned to try to monitor Pak Kibar, what really happened, what the chronology was like,” said Adam.

He then accompanied Kibar, including communicating with the bank. The result was that the bank gave a 4-month deadline starting from February 2026 for Kibar to repay the debt.

“We were given 4 months to pay the debt. Initially valued at Rp536 million. After running with interest, now it’s maybe around Rp556 million,” he said.

For the first two months, the team tried to sell Kibar’s paintings through network relations. However, those efforts have not yet yielded results. Finally, he and the team took the initiative to make a video until it went viral.

“We don’t have collector acquaintances, we don’t have anyone in this field, really starting from scratch,” he said.

Adam also emphasised that the support team does not take any profit from the sale of Kibar’s works.

“We will not take a single penny from the sale of Pak Kibar’s paintings,” he asserted.

Since going viral, several offers have started to come in, although not all are serious. Nevertheless, some offers are quite high. A painting featuring Gibran Rakabuming Raka is said to have been offered up to Rp37 million, while the Soekarno painting was offered up to Rp42 million.

“The highest offer for the Gibran painting has been offered Rp37 (million), this one (pointing to the Soekarno painting) offered Rp42 (million),” he revealed.