Art We Love

ART

WE LOVE

Emiria Sunassa (1894–1964) was one of the earliest female modern artists in Indonesia. In her adventurous life, she traveled widely across Indonesia, and her paintings often presented diverse peoples of the archipelago. Emiria claimed to be descended from the former Sultan of Tidore in the Maluku Islands. Because Tidore had historically exercised control over areas of Papua, Emiria argued that this made her the rightful “Queen of Papua,” although her claim was never officially accepted. This political and personal history casts a new light on Emiria’s paintings of Papuan subjects in the collection of National Gallery Singapore.

Visit the exhibition Familiar Others to see how Papuan artists and academics today respond to this artwork. “The name Emiria Sunassa is new to me. I am astounded to know that there was a great Indonesian woman artist during a time that was difficult for women—the colonial period—when women and nature were objects to yearn after, conquer, and control. Emiria managed to give life to the objects in this painting depicting the bird of paradise, turning the objects into subjects.” Dr Els Tieneke Rieke Katmo, Lecturer in Socio Economics of Agriculture, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.

The exhibition Familiar Others: Emiria Sunassa, Eduardo Masferré and Yeh Chi Wei, 1940s–1970s is on display at Supreme Court Wing, Level 3, Dalam Southeast Asia Gallery.

Emiria Sunassa. Orang Irian dengan Burung Tjenderawasih (Irian Man with Bird of Paradise). 1948. Oil on canvas, 67.2 × 54.5 cm.

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Ultimate First-timer Guide TAKE A TOUR OF THE GALLERY’S MUST-SEE ARTWORKS! If it’s your first time at the Gallery, use this Art Journey to dive into the must-see artworks and exhibitions.

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Get inspired by art by local artists! Drop by the Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real exhibition, as well as Siapa Nama Kamu? to view artworks from the 19th century to the present day.

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