Henk Ngantung, The Artist Behind the Sketches at the Museum of Fine Arts & Ceramics

The Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik houses a diverse collection of ceramics, sculptures, paintings, and sketches by prominent Indonesian artists. Among them are works by Henk Ngantung, born in Bogor on March 1, 1921. He also served as Governor of Jakarta from 1964 to 1965.

The iconic “Selamat Datang” (Welcome) Monument, located at the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, was one of Henk Ngantung’s designs, created in collaboration with sculptor Edhi Sunarso. Henk designed the monument while serving as Deputy Governor of Jakarta.

The museum holds approximately 16 paintings by Henk Ngantung. Most works from this period depict sketches of PETA (Pembela Tanah Air/Defenders of the Homeland) soldiers in various poses and activities, receiving orders, standing guard, scouting, discussing strategy, and resting. Henk’s realist style is known for capturing subjects accurately through direct observation.

Henk Ngantung’s Sketches at the Museum

The majority of Henk Ngantung’s sketches in the museum record moments from Indonesia’s struggle for independence. These include depictions of military training activities of Indonesian youth in PETA, documentation of the Linggadjati Agreement, and a sketch of the plan for the West Irian Liberation Monument.

Beyond painting and sculpting, Henk served as an observer of the people’s condition during wartime. Through his strokes, he recorded suffering, tension, and the spirit of resistance. For Henk, art became a medium to channel hope and envision the nation’s future.

One of his significant works is the Sketch for the West Irian Liberation Monument. This sketch stands as visual evidence in the history of Indonesia’s decolonization, documenting how political and diplomatic victories were later commemorated in public space through art.

In the initial design, Henk did not merely draw a static monument. He captured the gesture of a man breaking the chains on his hands and feet, a symbol of the liberation of the people of West Irian from Dutch colonialism. The monument was later realized by the Keluarga Arca sculptors’ collective under the leadership of Edhi Sunarso.

The PETA sketches, which form the largest portion of the museum’s collection, portray scenes of military drills and tactical planning. These works serve as rare visual records of the Japanese, established paramilitary organization that later became the precursor to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Through these sketches, Henk documented the transformation of Indonesian youth from civilians into an organized military force.

Meanwhile, in his sketch of the Linggadjati Agreement, Henk acted as a visual recorder of an official diplomatic moment at the invitation of President Soekarno on November 11–13, 1946. At a time when photography was still limited, Henk’s sketches captured details of the negotiations that might have escaped the camera lens, making them valuable primary historical documents.

Other sketches contain nuanced critiques of colonialism, satire of bureaucracy, and expressions of independence. Dutch figures are often depicted as rigid and arrogant, while Indonesian fighters appear more dynamic and spirited.

Outside the museum’s collection, Henk Ngantung also contributed to the design of the Selamat Datang Monument at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, designed the Jakarta city emblem bearing the motto “Jaya Raya,” and planned the fountain at the Bank Indonesia roundabout, known at its inauguration as the Ngantung Fountain.

Henk Ngantung: A Governor with an Artist’s Soul

Born Hendrik Joel Hermanus, Henk grew up in Tomohon, North Sulawesi. He was largely self-taught. At the age of 13, his artistic talent was encouraged by E. Katoppo, the headmaster of his elementary school, who nurtured his interest in painting.

At 14, Henk held a solo exhibition in Manado, the proceeds funded his journey to Java.
Between 1937 and 1940, he settled in Bandung to study painting under Austrian artist Prof. Rudolf Wenghart and architect Prof. C.P. Wolff Schoemaker. He also joined the group known as the Five Bandung Painters.

After Bandung, Henk moved to Batavia (now Jakarta), where he remained until the end of his life. He joined the Bataviasche Bond van Kunstkringen and was active in Keimin Bunka Shidōsho during the Japanese occupation.

In his artistic practice, Henk often portrayed the lives of ordinary people, fish sellers, pedicab drivers, carriage drivers, and fruit vendors, reflecting his commitment to social realities.

He became a member of the Institute of People’s Culture/Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat (LEKRA) and was active in cultural and political movements. He developed a close relationship with President Soekarno, beginning at art exhibitions during the Japanese occupation. Soekarno, who had an architectural background, was an avid visitor of art exhibitions.

One pivotal moment occurred when Henk sketched Soekarno’s portrait directly from life. Impressed by the speed and precision of his strokes, Soekarno subsequently invited Henk to participate in various important presidential events.

Recognizing his potential as both an artist and a “recorder of his time,” Soekarno appointed him Deputy Governor (1960–1964) and later Governor of Jakarta in 1964. At the time, Soekarno envisioned transforming Jakarta into a culturally vibrant and aesthetically refined capital.

Provenance research conducted with Geni Ngantung reveals how Henk’s works became part of the Museum of Fine Arts & Ceramics collection. Most entered the museum through a donation mechanism from Pertamina.

According to the research findings, Henk sold several sketches to his colleague Piet Haryono, who was then President Director of Pertamina. The works were subsequently officially donated and became part of the museum’s collection.

Accessing the Collection Through Jakarta Digital Collections

The stories behind Henk Ngantung’s sketches can be accessed through the Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) portal, scheduled for launch in mid-2026.

JDC is an initiative by SEAMS through the #KoleksiKita program, in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Office of Culture and 12 museums under its management. The program aims to broaden public access to museum collections through digitization and cataloging.

This initiative is supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which is committed to preserving historic buildings, archaeological and cultural sites, museum objects and collections, and traditional cultural expressions worldwide.