Salim

Salim was born near Medan in 1908. When he turned 12 (1920), he set off to Europe and stayed there until 1931, the time when he came back to his nation and joined Mohammad Hatta in Indonesia National Education Party (Partai Pendidikan Nasional Indonesia), up until 1934. The situation at that moment felt imprisoning, especially when his friends – including Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir – were captured and exiled by the Dutch colonial government. Salim preferred freedom although it was not easy to obtain. He managed to escape and directly went to France, the place he was already familiar with. He temporarily stayed in Marseille, and moved on to Paris, a place to go for painters from all over the world who craved for freedom. A little time after, he was interested to move to Sete, a small town on the South of France coastline. Not for long though, as he moved back to Paris, which was commonly known as the centre of European culture. This place has become his final residence up until now, followed by a few visits to Indonesia in 1954, 1956, 1971, 1974 and 1990, sometimes to exhibit his works. This exhibition itself will show Salim’s works since the ’50-s up to 2004. There will also be the screening of an interview with Salim, some photographs, and other archives.

Salim’s works will be exhibited alongside the works of today’s artists, such as: Eddie Hara, Muhammad Reggie Aquara, Tommy Aditama Putra, Indra Gunadharma, Hamdan Omar, Syahrizal Pahlevi, Helmut Huang, Bibianna Lee, Nurhidayat, Magdalena Pardede, Mujahidin Nurrachman, Yus Herdiawan, Dandi Achmad Ramdhani (Achong), Erik Pauhrizi, Yogie Achmad Ginanjar, E. Ariardian Pramunindyo. Each of them will interpret the figure or the works of Salim into their own perspective.