Agus Djaya

Raden Agoes Djajasoeminta (Enhanced Spelling: Agus Jayasuminta, 1 April 1913 – 24 April 1994), better known as Agus Djaya, was an modernist Indonesian painter. Born to a civil servant in Banten, Djaya was educated at Dutch-run schools. He had begun teaching art by 1934, and in 1938 he collaborated with fellow painter S. Sudjojono to establish the Indonesian Painters Association (Persatuan Ahli Gambar Indonesia; PERSAGI). Under Djaya's leadership, the artist collective held several exhibitions. During the Japanese occupation of 1942–1945, Djaya led the visual arts division of the Institute for People's Education and Cultural Guidance. Having received military training from the Japanese, Djaya joined the People's Security Army at the outbreak of the Indonesian National Revolution. However, he soon returned to art, and in 1947 left for the Netherlands with his brother Otto. During their time in Europe, the Djayas held several exhibitions that included works from their collection. After returning to Indonesia, Agus Djaya spent some time in Jakarta before settling in Bali, where he spent the rest of his life. Djaya's early works have been described as blending fauvism and expressionism, while his later works are identified as more commercially oriented.