Fine Arts Study Program of Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta has a long history of producing artists, art practitioners, art writers, and art researchers who are reliable in the field of fine arts, both technically and academically in the world of higher education in Indonesia to date.

The history of Fine Arts ISI Yogyakarta began with ASRI or the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts which was established on Sunday, January 15, 1950. The inauguration of the ASRI was carried out by Ki Sarmidi Mangunsarkoro as the Minister of Education, Teaching and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia (P.P. and K. RI) at that time in Yogyakarta. The establishment of ASRI is in accordance with the ideals of the artists and the government of the Republic of Indonesia to have an art academy that will be able to raise the degree of Indonesian art and culture.

Actually, the idea and process towards the establishment of ASRI has been a long time coming, especially after Indonesia's independence in 1945. At that time, many artists had begun to emerge in the community so it was necessary to nurture and cultivate these seeds in an art academy. The idea became clearer and narrower when the National Cultural Congress took place in Magelang from Friday, August 20 to Tuesday, August 24, 1948. The first congress after three years of Indonesian independence was held at the Magelang Regency Hall and opened by the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Sukarno.

Several different discussion agendas were held each day. Specifically, the discussion about the establishment of an art academy was held on Monday, August 23, 1948. The discussion meeting related to the establishment of the art academy was held at the fifth meeting at Panti Perri at 19.30 until 23.00 WIB. And the conclusions of the Cultural Congress in Magelang are divided into several categories of conclusions. Among them are Culture and the Development of Society and the State, Kebatinan in Relation to Culture, and others. As for the establishment of an art academy, it was outlined in the Cultural Institute section with the sentence "Proposing to the Government the immediate establishment of an Academy of Arts". Thus, the congress unanimously deemed it necessary to establish an arts academy in Indonesia. Unfortunately, due to the Second Dutch Military Aggression four months after the congress, on December 19, 1948, the plan was stopped immediately.

Nevertheless, at the end of 1949, the Minister of Education, Teaching and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia sent a letter dated November 14, 1949 No. 24 / Kebud. which contained an invitation to cultural arts figures in Yogyakarta to discuss all matters necessary for the establishment of the Academy of Fine Arts. As a result of the meeting, Ministerial Decree No. 26/Keb. Dated November 17, 1949 which appointed a committee for the establishment of the Academy of Fine Arts which within a short period of one month had to report the results of its work to the Ministry of Education, Teaching and Culture Jawatan Kebudayaan. The members of the committee were: RJ Katamsi Martorahardjo (Head of the cultural section of the Yogyakarta Social Ministry's teaching section) as chairman, Djajengasmoro (chairman of PTPI or Pusat Tenaga Pelukis Indonesia) as vice chairman, Sarwana (employee of the cultural ministry's arts section) as writer, Hendra (painter) as member, Koesnadi (painter) as member, Sindoesisworo (Taman Siswa teacher) as member, Soerjasoegondho as member, Prawito as member, Indrosoegondho (employee of the cultural ministry's arts section) as member.

This team of nine then held marathon meetings on November 17, 20, 22 and 25, 1949 at the Djawatan Kebudayaan office on Jl. Batanawarsa 34 and at the Ministry of P.P and K on Jl. Mahameru 11. As a result, the "Plan for the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts" was drawn up (When discussing the name of the art academy, the name Akademi Seni Rupa Mataram was suggested. However, because it was considered too regional, the name was not accepted). And on December 5, 1949 the "Plan of the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts" was submitted to the authorities. Not long after that, on December 15, 1949 the Decree of the Minister of P.P. and K No. 32/Kebud. was issued which contained the establishment of the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts in Yogyakarta whose opening would later be held on January 15, 1950. The Decree stated that the purpose of ASRI was "To elevate the degree of fine arts in particular and Indonesian culture in general, based on Pancasila and its tasks are (a) To educate students to become mainstream citizens with high culture and sufficient knowledge, (b) To prepare students who in society can be responsible and lead companies, agencies and so on that have to do with the vak studied, (c) To prepare students who will become drawing teachers at various schools in Indonesia." (d) To prepare students to become drawing teachers at various schools in Indonesia.

On Sunday, January 15, 1950 at 10.00 am, the inauguration of the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts (ASRI) was held in the Kepatihan Ward of Yogyakarta. In attendance were the Minister of P.P. and K, Ki Sarmidi Mangunsarkoro, Director of ASRI R.J. Katamsi, Head of the Culture Ministry Soedarsono along with Sindoesawarno, Sri Handojokoesoemo, and Indrosoegondho. Also present were Prof. Dr. Sardjito, Prof. Mr. Djojodiguno. KRT. Honggowongso, KRT. Notojudo. Also present were prospective teachers at ASRI, namely Djajengasmoro, Koesnadi, Prawito, and Sri Moertono. And there were also prospective students who attended the event which later one of the students named Soemardjon, a prospective student of section IV, was asked to sign the ASRI establishment charter.

At that time ASRI had sections namely (1) Painting, (2) Sculpture, (3) Carpentry, (4) Art of Reclamation, Decoration, Illustration, and Graphics (REDIG), (5) Drawing Teachers diploma A and B, (6) Building Art (temporarily not yet held). In the first year, 40 students were accepted out of 160 applicants. Some of these students have become ASRI Trustees in the future. They are Abas Alibasjah, Abdul Kadir, Edhi Sunarso, Hendrodjasmoro, Moch. Bakir Saptoto, Soetopo, and Widajat. The place was divided into two, the first in Bintaran Lor 12b under the supervision of the Deputy Director and the second in SMA section B Kotabaru under the direct leadership of the director. The first teachers at that time were: (1) R.J. Katamsi who taught Art, Reproduction, Perspective, Opmeten; (2) Djajengasmoro who taught Painting and Stilleven; (3) Hendra taught Painting; (4) Koesnadi taught Composition; (5) Mardio taught Methodics and Drawing on the blackboard; (6) Sri Moertono taught Advertising; (7) Ardan taught Knowledge of Materials; (8) Warindyo taught Carving; (9) Dr. Martohusodo taught Anatomy. Martohusodo taught Plastic Anatomy; (10) Dr. Martohusodo taught Plastic Anatomy. (10) Dr. Radiopoetro taught Plastic Anatomy; (11) Sindoesisworo taught Carving Drawing; (12) Soerjosoeghondo taught Illustration; (13) Toeloes Soebroto taught Philosophy; (14) Widjongko taught Photography, Typography, Painting and Graphics; (15) Padmopoespito taught Cultural History; (16) Prawito taught Home Architecture; (17) Soetjito taught Antiquities; (18) Setjojoso taught Painting; Soehatmanto taught Carving. In subsequent developments, there were various changes that aimed to further establish ASRI as an academically established university and create reliable artists and designers.

In the context of Fine Arts, sections (1) Painting, (2) Sculpture and Sculpture, (4) Art of Reclamation, Decoration, Illustration, and Graphics (REDIG) can be classified into Pure Art, although later section (4) Reclamation, Decoration, Illustration and Graphics will be separated into 2 sections, namely Graphic Art and Communication Design, which fall into the realm of Pure Art is Graphic Art, while Communication Design is classified as Applied Art. ASRI's first curriculum contained in the appendix of the Decree of the Minister of P.P. and K RI No. 32/Kebud. for courses contained in the REDIG department is divided into three major groups, namely: General Knowledge, Theory, and Practice. In the General Knowledge group there are courses (a) Philosophy, (b) Mental Science, (c) History of Arts and Culture, (d) Society (social and artistic), (e) Knowledge of Antiquities, (f) Bedrijfsleer (business). For the Theory group there are courses (a) Comparison and Proportion (location of limbs, location of parts of the shape and terrain of the human form), (b) Form of the body (anatomy) continued proportion, namely an explanation of the location and function of the form for the movement or not of a body (physical character), (c) Houdingen (Motion Style), (d) Perspective (in color and shape), (e) Knowledge of Materials, (f) Aesthetics and Composition, Projection, (g) Painting Measurement Science, (h) Methodics, (i) Architecture. While the practical group includes (a) Painting, (b) Drawing with potlot, tub ink, placard paint and drawing about lettering, illustration (press book illustration), ontwerp (design) poster printing and packaging, decoration for home decoration and showroom decoration, (c) Slides, (d) Cartoon, (e) Window display, (f) Photography, various types of clichés (etching, litho, woodcut, zinco, woodcarving, linoleumsnede, (g) Printing, techniques for preparing booklets, advertentie, drukwerken, (h) Projection, (i) Maquette (scale model), (j) Decorating.

In 1963 after Abas Alibasyah went to Jakarta to take care of everything related to the development and various matters contained in the ASRI environment, the Decree of the Minister of P.P. and K No. 27/1963 dated April 5, 1963 appeared. The letter gave ASRI the status of a full university. The academy only accepts high school graduates and the education lasts for five years with three years for Bachelor candidates (level A) and two more years for Bachelor level (level B). With this new situation, ASRI has six departments, namely: (1) Department of Painting with Head of Department Abas Alibasyah, (2) Department of Sculpture with Head of Department Edhi Sunarso, (3) Department of Craft Art with Head of Department Tukijo Hs, (4) Department of Advertising/Propaganda Art with Head of Department Soetopo, (5) Department of Decorative Art with Head of Department Widajat, (6) Department of Illustration/Graphic Art with Head of Department Abdul Kadir.

When viewed from the new structure, the original Sculpture and Sculpture became the Sculpture Department. Then the Art of Advertising, Illustration Decoration and Graphics separated into the Department of Advertising/Propaganda Art, the Department of Illustration/Graphic Art, and the Department of Decorative Arts. The Drawing Teachers of diploma A and B joined IKIP Yogyakarta, while Building Art still did not appear, which was present in the six departments was the Craft Art Department.

In this period, precisely on November 4, 1969 through the decree of the Minister of P.P. and K. No. 0100/1968 ASRI changed its status from Academy to College with the title of Sekolah Tinggi Seni Rupa Indonesia 'ASRI' or STSRI 'ASRI'. At that time, the Head of Department was Drs. R. Soetopo Mangkoediredjo. Still in that period, precisely in 1978, a government policy emerged regarding the dynamics of campus life. The policy was outlined in Decree No.0156/U/1978 concerning Normalization of Campus Life or NKK and the next Decree No.037/U/1979 concerning the Student Coordinating Board or BKK by the then Minister of Education and Culture, Daoed Joesoef. 

In the next journey there was a major change in the organization of education at STSRI 'ASRI'. This was because in mid-1984 there was a merger between three institutions, namely STSRI 'ASRI', AMI, and ASTI into one higher education institution for the arts called Indonesian Institute of the Arts or ISI on July 23, 1984. This change also caused changes in the majors contained therein. 

The leadership structure of the Fine Arts Study Program in the period 1980 - 2025 also underwent several changes, the following are the official figures at the Study Program level in Fine Arts:

Period 1980 - 1982

In this period the Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture Study Programs were still independent and did not become a Fine Arts unit, the Chairperson of STSRI "ASRI" was held by Abdul Kadir MA, the Chairperson of the Painting Study Program was held by Drs. Fadjar Sidik, the Chairperson of the Printmaking Study Program was held by Drs. Sun Ardi, and the Chairperson of the Sculpture Study Program was held by Drs. Wardoyo.

Period 1983 - 1984

In this period, the Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture Study Programs still stand alone like the previous structure, there is only the addition of the structure above the Head of the Study Program, namely the Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design who is held by Drs. Saptoto, and the change of leadership of the Head of the Painting Study Program, namely the Head of the Painting Study Program this period is held by Drs. Subroto, the Head of the Printmaking Study Program is held by Drs. Sun Ardi, the Head of the Sculpture Study Program is held by Drs. Wardoyo.

1985 Period

In this period, the position of Dean was still held by Drs. Saptoto, then the position of Head of Painting Program Drs. Subroto was replaced by Drs. Aming Prayitno, Head of Printmaking Program was still held by Drs. Sun Ardi, and Head of Sculpture Program Drs. Wardoyo was replaced by Drs. Mon Mudjiman.

Period in 1986

In this period, the position of Head of the Painting Study Program was still held by Drs. Aming Prayitno, while the position of Head of the Printmaking Study Program Drs. Sun Ardi was replaced by Drs. Yohanes Eka Suprihadi, and the Head of the Sculpture Study Program was still held by Drs. Mon Mudjiman.

Period 1987 - 1988

In this period, precisely in 1987, the Fine Arts Study Program was formed from the merger of Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture into a single unit, the Head of the Fine Arts Department was Drs. Aming Prayitno, then Painting was chaired by Drs. Suwaji, Printmaking was chaired by Drs. Yohanes Eka Suprihadi, and Sculpture was chaired by Drs. Mon Mudjiman.

Period 1989 - 1990

In this period, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department previously held by Drs. Aming Prayitno was replaced by Drs. Yohanes Eka Suprihadi, and the position of Secretary of the Department was held by Drs. Sudarisman.

Period 1991 - 1993

In this period the position of Dean Drs. Saptoto was replaced by Drs. Narno in 1992, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department which was previously held by Drs. Yohanes Eka Suprihadi was replaced by Drs. Sudarisman, Painting was chaired by Drs. Wardoyo Sugianto, Printmaking was chaired by Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto, and Sculpture was chaired by Drs. Kasman Piliang. In this period, precisely in 1993, a new structure was also formed, namely the Head of Study Program held by Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto.

Period 1994 - 1995

In 1994 there was a significant structural change, where the position of Chair of Painting, Chair of Printmaking, and Chair of Sculpture was abolished, the result was that the leadership structure consisted of the position of Head of Department and the position of Head of Study Program. The Head of the Fine Arts Department, Drs. Sudarisman, was replaced by Drs. AB. Dwiantoro, MS, and the Head of the Fine Arts Study Program is still held by Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto.

Period Year 1996 

In this period, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department was still held by Drs. AB. Dwiantoro, MS, and the position of Head of the Fine Arts Study Program Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto was replaced by Drs. FX. Pracoyo. 

Period of 1997

In this period, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department, Drs. AB. Dwiantoro, MS, was replaced by Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto who again served as Head of the Department, and the position of Head of the Study Program was still held by Drs. FX. Pracoyo.

Period in 1998

In this period the position of Head of the Department was still held by Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto, and the position of Head of the Fine Arts Study Program Drs. FX. Pracoyo was replaced by Drs. Andang Suprihadi.

Period 1999 - 2000

In this period the position of Head of the Department Drs. Harry Tjahjo Surjanto was replaced by Drs. Edi Sunaryo, M.S. and the Head of the Fine Arts Study Program was still held by Drs. Andang Suprihadi.

Period 2000 - 2004

In this period, the position of Head of Department Drs. Edi Sunaryo, M.S. was replaced by Drs. Andang Suprihadi who previously served as Head of Study Program, and the position of Secretary of the Department was held by Drs. Syafruddin, while the position of the new Head of Study Program was held by Drs. AG Hartono.

Period 2004 - 2008

In this period the position of Head of the Department Drs. Andang Suprihadi was replaced by Drs. AG Hartono, the position of Secretary of the Department was held by Yoga Budhi Wantoro, S.Sn. M.Sn., and the position of Head of the Fine Arts Study Program was held by Dendi Suwandi.

Period 2008 - 2012

In this period there was an abolition of the position of the Head of the Fine Arts Study Program and it was valid for several periods afterwards, so that the leadership structure only consisted of the Head of the Fine Arts Department and the Secretary of the Fine Arts Department. The Head of the Fine Arts Department was held by Drs. Nunung Nurdjanti, M.Sn., and the position of Secretary of the Fine Arts Department was held by Wiwik Sri Wulandari, S.Sn., M.Sn.

Period 2012 - 2016

In this period, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department was held by Wiwik Sri Wulandari, S.Sn., M.Sn., and the position of Secretary of the Fine Arts Department was held by Warsono, S.Sn., M.A..

Period of 2016 - 2020

In this period, the position of Head of the Department of Fine Arts was held by Lutse Lambert, S.Sn., M.Sn., and the position of Secretary of the Department of Fine Arts was held by Satrio Hari Wicaksono, S.Sn., M.Sn.

Period 2020 - 2024

In this period, the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department was held by Dr. Miftahul Munir, M.Hum., and the position of Secretary of the Fine Arts Department was held by Wiyono, S.Sn., M.Sn.

Period 2024 - 2028

In this period there was a merger between two Departments, namely the Department of Art Conservation which was originally from the Art Management Study Program to be combined with the Department of Fine Arts, so that the position of Head of the Study Program who served as the coordinator of the two departments was re-established. In this period the position of Head of the Fine Arts Department was held by Satrio Hari Wicaksono, S.Sn., M.Sn., then the position of Secretary of the Fine Arts Department was held by Devy Ika Nurjanah, S.Sn., M.Sn., and the position of Head of the Fine Arts Study Program was held by Dr. Nadiyah Tunnikmah, S.Sn., M.A.

In the period since ASRI was established, until it changed its name to STSRI and became ISI at this time, the Fine Arts Study Program has undergone many changes in organizational structure which are part of the long history of the Fine Arts journey of ISI Yogyakarta. This indicates that the Fine Arts Study Program of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta adheres to democratic values in terms of leadership in its organizational structure, and is also dynamic in following the times. It is necessary for the author to convey a little speech from the director of the first Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts, R.J. Katamsi at the inauguration of the opening of ASRI: ".... we will be able to carry out our ideals, namely guiding a line of dynamic and creative new artists, who can truly contribute their highly talented souls for the benefit of Homeland and the Nation ..." This little statement can always remind us all of our current position in the world of fine arts in Indonesia and the world.

Greetings culture.

Reference source:

• "Toekang Reklame School - A Journal of Visual Communication Design ISI Yogyakarta", Baskoro Suryo Banindro, MSn, (http://dgi.or.id/in-depth/history/sekolah-toekang-reklame-suatu-catatan-perjalanan-disain-komunikasi-visual-isi-yogyakarta.html).
• "Bianglala Budaya Rekam jejak 95 Tahun Kongres Kebudayaan 1918-2013", Nunus Supardi, 2013, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture.
• "ASRI 20 Years", Sekolah Tinggi Seni Rupa Indonesia Jogjakarta, Pertjetakan Mobil MPU-JG-I-69-46.
• "ASRI Jogja 1950-1955 Education and Culture", Publication Series for Information, Published by the Ministry of Education, Teaching, and Culture, Republic of Indonesia, No. 7 - January 1955.