Mochtar Apin (23.Des.1923–01.Jan.1994) was an accomplished Indonesian painter and tenured lecturer.

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Mochtar Apin
Born	(1923-12-23)December 23, 1923 Padangpanjang, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies
Died	January 1, 1994(1994-01-01) (aged 70) Bandung, West Jawa, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian
Alma mater	- Fine Arts ITB, Bandung (1951) - Fine Arts and Design, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1952) - École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (1957) - Deutsche Akademie der Kuenste, Berlin, Germany
Occupation	Painter, Lecturer
Spouse(s)	Sien Mochtar Apin
Children	Karina, Arleti and Marella Mochtar Apin

He was co-founder of the Arena of Independent Artists movement (Gelanggang Seniman Muda ) in Jakarta in 1946, and a member of the Bandung Institute of Technology. Alongside other painters, intellectuals and poets, he advocated a universalist ideal for culture, advocating the creation of art concerns that could communicate to people of all backgrounds.[1]

Life

In 1948, Apin enrolled at the Technical Faculty, Universitas Indonesia (renamed as Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in 1959) where he became a student of Ries Mulder, one of the founders of the school. In 1951 he visitied The Netherlands on a scholarship to study at the Kunstnijverheidsschool Quellinus. Later in 1953 he enrolled at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, the Fine Arts School in Paris.[2] During these years, Mochtar took the initiative travelling around Europe, looking at art and visiting museums. Apin was a great admirer of the optical art of Victor Vasarely, having lived for several years in France. His geometric paintings from this period are related to the graphic work of Vasarely.[3]

With these experiences, Mochtar was well equipped to debate on the role of art in Indonesia. Mochtar returned to Bandung in 1958 and joined the teaching staff of his former Faculty one year prior to the departure of Ries Mulder. His last retrospective in 1988 was held in Bandung and Jakarta, four years after he received tenure as professor at the ITB.[4]

In 1960, Mochtar married Sien Mochtar Apin, and the couple had three daughters, Karina, Arleti and Marella Mochtar Apin.[1]

Works and Exhibitions

• Solo Exhibition in Amsterdam and Den Haag in 1953[1]
• Solo Exhibition in Paris in 1956
• Solo Exhibition Bangkok, 1968, 1969 and 1971
• Solo Exhibition in Jakarta, Dewan Kesenian Jakarta in 1976
• Solo Exhibition "Retrospektif 1940-1988" in Bandung in 1986, Jakarta in 1989 and Yogyakarta in 1990
• Exhibition of Bandung Artists, 21–28 December 1986[5]
• Cubism in Asia: Unbounded Dialogues organised by the Japan Foundation in 2004

Awards

• Scholarship from the Indonesian government to study at the cole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France (1953-1957)[4]
• Scholarship from Deutsche Akademie der Künste, Berlin, West Germany (1957-1958)
• Scholarship from France to study lithography/offset/ printmaking techniques in Paris (1968)
• Cultural Award from the Australian government (1974)

See also

• Abdul Djalil Pirous
• Ahmad Sadali
• I Nyoman Masriadi
• Ries Mulder
• Umi Dachlan

References