Portrait of Gesang Martohartono; Singer-songwriter; Composer of ‘Bengawan Solo'

Credit Line: Gift of the Artist 2012, Collection of SMU

Indra Leonardi is one of Indonesia's leading portrait photographers. In November 2012, he had his first solo exhibition in Singapore titled "Bits of Me – Portraits by Indra Leonardi" at de Suantio Gallery. He exhibited a series titled ‘Indonesian Portraits', which he has been working on since the 1990s. The series is a testament to both the photographer's craft and his sensitivity to his sitters. It features Indonesian thinkers, artists, business leaders and statesmen, and can be viewed at the Administration Building and Office of Core Curriculum.

On the exhibition caption for the artwork, Indra Leonardi says of the portrait:

"The friendly and cheerful Gaseng was ready in his formal Javanese attire when I arrived at his home. I asked him to change into his daily wear, and had him sit beside his pet songbird. To achieve this seemingly simple angle, I moved my camera to across the street and had to shout directions over the noise of traffic."