Harijadi Sumodidjojo

Who was Harijadi Sumodidjojo?

Harijadi Sumodidjojo was an Indonesian realist artist who live in revolution era. He carried democratic undestranding through his works which described people's physical form and minds so that it was real enjoyed by the community. Some of his art works are the paintings of Awan Berarak Jalan Bersimpang dan Biografi II di Malioboro, Anak Tetangga Kita, stone reliefs titled Pesta Pura di Bali, and mural painted on the wall of Jakarta History Museum. The 200 m² unfinished mural described Batavia's life during 1880 until 1920. This Mural is buried in an ethnography room from 1974 until 2010 when some British and Indonesian historians found it unexpectedly.

Harijadi was one of the painter who often invited by Soekarno to discuss about paintings. His believe to Soekarno's national ideology had limited him to work in Indonesia New Order. At that time, any concepts related with Soekarno had become a fear. Until his end of life, he still held the principle to use his art works for people and refused to serve ruler.