Throne of Art of Bung Karno Awakens the Artistic Side of the Proclamator
Denpasar — Mahagaya Pagelaran Persona (MPP), a creative initiative founded by Prananda Prabowo, has organised the Singgasana Seni Bung Karno (Throne of Art of Bung Karno) exhibition to celebrate the artistic dimensions of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno.
Diah Safira Prananda, the youngest daughter of Prananda Prabowo and great-granddaughter of Sukarno, has been entrusted as the exhibition’s chairwoman and fashion designer, carrying forward the artistic lineage of Indonesia’s proclamator. The 23-year-old, speaking in Denpasar, Bali on Saturday, noted that whilst she lacks formal design training, she has inherited the artistic sensibility of her forebears.
Safira Prananda drew inspiration from both Bung Karno and her grandmother, the fifth President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, both of whom balanced artistic pursuits with political responsibilities. She presented 20 original fashion designs rooted in the philosophical concept “Tat Twam Asi” (I Am You), featuring pastel-coloured botanical and zoological motifs, including butterflies, flowers, and birds, designed to appeal to younger audiences.
In developing the exhibition, MPP has partnered with local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ensuring that all works dedicated to celebrating Sukarno’s artistic legacy directly benefit local artisans. Safira Prananda considers the exhibition, which has engaged hundreds of artists and SMEs, sufficiently successful that she plans to expand it to Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Jakarta.
Beyond honouring Sukarno’s artistic contributions, the initiative aims to support local artists and SMEs across Indonesia, with all activities incorporating their participation. Balinese Governor Wayan Koster, who attended the opening, expressed enthusiasm for the event, noting that it reintroduces the public to Sukarno not merely as Indonesia’s first president and proclamator, but as an accomplished artist who painted and composed poetry. He highlighted that Sukarno’s multifaceted talents have been captured in the exhibition created by his great-grandson Prananda Prabowo.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sukarno’s daughter, attended the exhibition personally. During several sessions including poetry readings, contemporary dance performances depicting Sukarno, and a short video documenting his life journey, she was visibly moved, occasionally wiping away tears whilst applauding the artists’ efforts to revive the memory of Indonesia’s founding father through art.