December 24, 2025 | 06:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two paintings by former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) were sold in the Art Exhibition and Painting Auction for the Sumatra Disaster at Small Theatre at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. One of the paintings was sold before the auction began for Rp200 million, while another, titled God's Day, was sold for Rp311 million.
God's Day, painted with oil on a canvas measuring 130 x 80 centimeters, depicted a forest view while floods and landslides wreaked havoc in northern Sumatra last November. According to the ex-president, he watched footage of the Sumatra floods every night for at least three hours. One video particularly caught his attention, of rushing water submerging everything in its path.
"This is suffering, this is a tragedy, this is humanity that we must talk about," SBY said during the auction.
He auctioned the painting with an opening price ofRp 100 million. Bids came in until it was finally sold for Rp311 million. “God willing, whatever the final price is, you are all willing to give it to our brothers and sisters in need,” he said.
Involving 26 Artists
Aidil Usman, chair of the committee for the Art Exhibition and Painting Auction for the Sumatra Disaster, said that around 26 artists were involved in the charity event. Each artist submitted two works to be exhibited and auctioned.
The auction raised Rp800 million, and the unsold paintings will be offered in a catalogue for the Sumatra floods donation. “We will distribute the catalog to raise awareness for Sumatra donations,” Aidil told Tempo after the auction.
One of the artists who donated his work for the auction initiated by the Jakarta Arts Council was Masdibyo. The artist from Pacitan, East Java, brought two of his works with the theme Golden Horn (Running). The acrylic painting on canvas depicts a bull with golden horns running. He set the opening price for the painting at Rp335,840,000.
Masdibyo said the painting was not intended to offend anyone. “I painted the bull just as I would paint other things, such as chickens, corn, cats, and so on. So, there is absolutely no offense or political influence," he said.
His participation in the auction is part of the effort to alleviate the suffering of his fellow citizens amid the disaster. “Although it's not much, at least it can help ease the burden of our friends in Sumatra,” he said.
Read: Sumatra Flood: Recovery Efforts and Push for National Disaster Status
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