Painted by Gede Darmawan, a Javanese artist known for capturing Indonesia’s untold histories, this piece reflects the era of Dutch colonial rule and the quiet defiance of those who lived through it. The figure, poised yet watchful, symbolizes the indigenous warriors and rebels who resisted foreign domination, their struggles often erased from official records but preserved in local folklore.
Darmawan’s work is inspired by the stories of the Pangeran Diponegoro War (1825-1830) and the resistance of the Acehnese fighters against Dutch aggression. The subdued tones and shadowed textures echo a time when Indonesia’s archipelago was a battleground, not just of weapons, but of identity and survival. Here, art stands as a testament to a past that refuses to be forgotten.