Mochtar Apin

Mochtar Apin (23 December 1923 – 1 January 1994) was an accomplished Indonesian painter, illustrator, writer and tenured lecturer who taught fine arts at the Bandung Institute of Technology, ITB.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

His last retrospective in 1988 was held in Bandung and Jakarta, four years after he received tenure as professor at the ITB.