FX Harsono receives inaugural Joseph Balestier Award for Freedom of Art
FX Harsono, a renowned Indonesian artist, has been honored with the first-ever Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art, which includes a $5,000 grant, a trophy, and a certificate. This award highlights the work of Southeast Asian artists or curators who advocate for artistic freedom, a concept that faced skepticism in Singapore due to strict government policies on free speech. Born in 1948, Harsono studied at STSRI “ASRI” in Yogyakarta and the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ), and has been a faculty member at Pelita Harapan University since 2005. His politically and socially charged art emerged in the 1970s as part of the New Art Movement. The award was given by U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Kirk Wagar and Art Stage Singapore's founder, Lorenzo Rudolf.
Key facts
- FX Harsono won the inaugural Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art
- The award includes a $5,000 grant, trophy, and certificate
- It honors Southeast Asian artists or curators dedicated to freedom of art and expression
- The award faced initial skepticism in Singapore due to strict government views on free speech
- Harsono studied painting at STSRI “ASRI” in Yogyakarta and IKJ in Jakarta
- He has been a lecturer at Pelita Harapan University since 2005
- His art practice began with the New Art Movement in the 1970s
- The award was presented by Kirk Wagar and Lorenzo Rudolf
Entities
Artists
- FX Harsono
Institutions
- Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru (New Art Movement)
- STSRI “ASRI”
- IKJ (Jakarta Art Institute)
- Faculty of Art and Design, Pelita Harapan University
- Selasar Sunaryo Art Space
- Jogjakarta National Museum
- Tyler Rollins
- Singapore Art Museum
- National Gallery of Indonesia
- Art Stage Singapore
Locations
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Yogyakarta
- Jakarta
- Tangerang
- West Java
- Bandung
- Jogjakarta
- New York
- USA