Profile
Jim Supangkat is an art historian, curator, and writer based in Indonesia. Originally an artist, Supangkat later transitioned to art criticism and curatorial practice, making a significant contribution to the development and promotion of contemporary fine arts in Indonesia. He is one of the few major stimulators and propagators of modern and contemporary art in the country. Supangkat has played a crucial role in the art-theoretical debate in Indonesia, endeavoring to place different cultural movements and developments within a single framework.His activities have provided tremendous support to Indonesian artists and art, and he has been instrumental in bridging the local and global art worlds. Supangkat was a founding member of the influential avant-garde art collective Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru (New Art Movement) in the 1970s and later curated notable exhibitions such as the Ninth Jakarta Biennale in 1993, which sparked debates on postmodernism in Indonesian art. He has served as a judge for various art competitions, including the Philip Morris Art Competition, and has curated biennales for Indonesian painting in Yogyakarta and Jakarta.
