Chronological Biography of Mochtar Apin
1923
1930 - 1933
1933 - 1937
1937 – 1941
1939 - 1940
1941
1941
1943 - 1944
1943
1941 - 1942
1943 - 1946
1946
1946
1946
1947
1947 - 1948
1946 - 1948
1948 - 1951
1949 - 1951
1950
1950
1951
1951
Born in Padang Panjang, West Sumatera from parents Mohammad Apin and
Kamilah.
Went to Kayutanam INS, West Sumatera. A school that built by native teachers
of West Sumatera and very much put effort in giving the theory and practice of
art. The famous painter, Wakidi was also a teacher here.
Enrolled Dutch Elementary School, HIS in Muara Enim, South Sumatera.
Enrolled MULO, Dutch Junior High School in Jakarta.
Learned to draw with JV Lookeren (an art teacher) and learned to paint with oil
paint technique with HV Verlthuijzen (a painter).
Joined PERSAGI
Joined the PERSAGI exhibition
Enrolled Keimin Bunka Shidoso and chose to learn painting under the
guidance of Soebanto Suryosubrandio (other guide: Soedjojono and Basuki
Abdullah). Joined the Keimin Bunka Shidoso exhibition.
Joined the Keimin Bunka Shidoso exhibition.
Enrolled AMS, Dutch High School in Jakarta.
Enrolled SMT in Jakarta.
Employed at Nusantara Magazine Jakarta as an illustrator.
With Chairil Anwar, Asrul Sani, Rivai Apin, Baharuddin Marasutan and other
artists found “Gelanggang” organization that had objectives of promoting
modernity, progress and freedom in expression. In the organization’s opening
noted: We would like to free ourselves from the old order that caused public to
rot, and we dare to challenge this old point of view, character and opinion to
make way to the new amber.
With Baharuddin Marasutan published blibliophili (a book of graphic artwork
that printed in limited amount therefore considered as work of art, instead of
printed item) to celebrate first anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence. Some
of the people that involved in the international publishing of this bibliophili
were Soedjatmoko, Maria Ulfah and Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana (also the
forewords writer).
Made an exhibition with Indonesia painters in Jakarta.
Employed at Gema Suasana and Pembangunan Magazine in Jakarta, as an
illustrator.
Enrolled the High School of Literature (Sekolah Tinggi Kesusasteraan) in
Jakarta.
Enrolled Universitas Indonesia, Perguruan tinggi Guru Seni RUpa, Fakultas
Teknik Universitas Indonesia, Bandung (now Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain,
Institut Teknologi Bandung). The presence of Mochtar Apin in this school was
an important factor, for Ries Mulder, one of the founder of this school did not
acknowledge the art progress that had been pioneered by Soedjojono. This
perception closed the possibility of communication between this school and
art escalation in Indonesia. In the middle of this dilemma, Mochtar Apin was a
mediator. In one case, as a member of “Gelanggang” he sided to progress
(modernity) which could be accepted by Ries Mulder. In other case, he was an
artist who knew well about art escalation and Indonesian art at that moment.
Without Mochtar Apin, there was a possibility that the development of this
school will be detached with the development of arts in Indonesia.
Became a drawing teacher in several government and private high schools.
With “Gelanggang” artists released “Letter of Trust from Gelanggang free
artists of Indonesia”. Statement that important in this letter of trust, were:
“We are the legal heir of World Culture and we shall continue it with our own
way.”
Joined the exhibition with “Sticusa” (a cooperation foundation that founded by
Netherland and few Indonesian intellectuals) in Jakarta.
Joined the exhibition with Pusat Kebudayaan Indonesia (Indonesia Culture
Center) in Bandung and Ujung Pandang.
Published bibliophili that put strength in Gelanggang Letter of Trust
Received the honor and scholarship from “Sticusa” to study in Netherland and
went around Europe.
1951 - 1952
1953
1953
1953 - 1957
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1962
1967
1967
1968
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1974
1975
1976
1976
1977
1978
1979
1979
1979
1980
1981
1982
1984
1985
Enrolled Kunstnijverheidschool, Amsterdam.
Solo Exhibition in Amsterdam and Den Haag, Netherland.
Received a scholarship from Indonesian Government to study in Paris.
Enrolled Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts Paris.
Touring exhibition in Bonn, Dusseldorf, Koln, Recklinghausen Germany also
Oslo, Skien, Bergen Trondheim Norway and Bern, Switzerland.
Solo exhibition in Paris and joined Realita Nouvelle movement.
Received an honor and scholarship, Deutsche Akademie der Kunste, Berlin as
“meisterchuler”.
Went back to Indonesia and joined his former school in Bandung (Fakultas
Seni Rupa dan Desain, Institut Teknologi Bandung). His view influenced the
way of progress of this school. Not noted, his argument with Ries Mulder,
although there were differences between them. Apin acknowledged the
development of Indonesian art, and Mulder did not. Mulder left Indonesia in
1959.
Symptoms that are showing the acknowledgement of Mochtar Apin of
Indonesian Art development, he joined Affandi in the “Pameran Bertiga, Apin
Affandi Burhan,” at USIS, Jakarta.
Got married with Kwee Sien Nio.
Joined the co-exhibition “Asian Games” Jakarta.
Joined an exhibition with Indonesian painters, Jakarta.
With Bandung artists published a bibliophili “Freedom” consisted of 11
graphic expressions that were interpreted from France’s P Eluard’s poems
“Liberte”.
Received a scholarship from France to study Lithography/offset/ graphic art
techniques in Paris.
Solo exhibition in Bangkok.
Solo exhibition in Bangkok.
Traveled to Japan and responsible for audio-visual program in Indonesia’s
pavilion at Expo ’70 Osaka, Japan.
With Bandung artists organized an exhibition of “Pameran Grup 18” at TIM.
This exhibition invited many attention and controversy about the difference
between Bandung side and Yogya side. Besides, this exhibition was colored
with abstract art, Mochtar Apin also coordinate the publishing of Grup 18
bibliophili (a collection of sketches and drawings)
Solo exhibition in Bangkok.
Joined an exhibition with Bandung artists in Surabaya.
Received a Cultural Award from Australian government.
Solo exhibition in Jakarta, organized by Dewan Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta
Board of Art).
Joined the Pameran besar Seni Lukis II (Big Exhibition of Art Paintings II) by
Dewan Kesenian Jakarta.
Joined International Print Biennale in Sydney Australia.
Received an invitation from Netherland Ministry of Education to discuss
educational and cultural cooperation.
Joined the exhibition in Amsterdam and Bisschofszel, Switzerland.
Joined the Contemporary Art Exhibition, Singapore Art Museum.
Promoted as the Dean of Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain ITB (at that moment,
the head of department, Fakultas Teknik Sipil dan Perencanaan).
Received an invitation from France’s Board of cooperation in Technology and
Education to run the mutual aid program.
Joined the exhibition of Japan and Asian Modern Paintings in Tokyo, Japan.
Joined the Contemporary Asian Art Show, Fukuoka, Japan, also attended the
artists gathering in that exhibition.
Joined and attended the Biennale of Asian Art, Dacca, Bangladesh.
Received an invitation from Asia Pacific Confederation of Art Education, Taipei
to attend the conference, “Influence of the West on Art Education in Asia
Pacific.”
Joined an exhibition with senior artists, Dewan Kesenian Jakarta.
Received the PhD degree and assigned as honorary art professor of Institut
Teknologi Bandung. Read the speech of assignment titled “Peran Seni Rupa
1986
1989
1990
1990
1991
1991
1991
1991
1992
1993
1994
Terhadap Teknologi” (Art’s Role in Technology).
Retrospective exhibition (1940 – 1988) at ITB, Bandung.
Retrospective exhibition (1940 – 1988) at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta.
Retrospective exhibition (1940 – 1988) at Institut Seni Indonesia, Yogyakarta.
With G Sidharta, Sanento Yuliman, Mara Karma, Gilbert Wiryadinata
(businessman) and Jim Supangkat planned to build an Art Center (Jakarta
Institute of Art). This effort abruptly stopped in early 1992.
Joined the exhibition with Indonesia – Malaysia painters in Bandung.
Joined Contemporary Asian Art Show, Fukuoka, Japan.
Chosen as a board member of Asia Pacific Regional Committee of
International Art Association (IAA), assigned to build a committee for Asia
Pacific region for IAA, an international organization. However, the IAA
Indonesia (national committee) was never formed, so he left the candidacy.
Organized and joined “Pameran Besar Seni Grafis Indonesia” (Grand
Exhibition of Graphic Art of Indonesia) at Jakarta Institute of Art Gallery, also
joined by all of graphic artists in Indonesia. With this exhibition, he established
the forming of Perhimpunan Pegrafis Indonesia (Indonesia Graphic Artists
Assocation) and met many obstacles. This objective was fought until the last
days of his life.
Joined the major exhibition of Jakarta Art and Design Expo, Jakarta.
Joined the exhibition “Pameran Perdana” at Cemara 6 Galeri Kafe, Jakarta.
Passed away on January 1st. He left a wife, Sien Mochtar Apin and three
daughters, Karina, Arleti and Marella Mochtar Apin.
Composed by Jim Supangkat