This dynamic is at the heart of NYALA: 200 Tahun Perang Diponegoro (NYALA: 200 years of Diponegoro war), an exhibition running from July 22 to Sept. 15 at Galeri Nasional Indonesia (National Gallery of Indonesia) in Central Jakarta. Featuring 33 works by 26 artists and collectives, NYALA showcases how the war’s spirit has fueled creative expression both historically and in modern times.

While the exhibition centers on the Java war, the artistic interpretations vary greatly depending on the era. Historical artists often portray Diponegoro and the conflict in a realistic, heroic manner, while contemporary creators use diverse media and concepts to explore the deeper meanings of resistance and resilience.

For example, Basoeki Abdullah’s work presents Diponegoro as a heroic figure in a realistic style, and Raden Saleh Boestaman’s famous painting depicts the Arrest of Prince Diponegoro with a perspective contrasting sharply to the Dutch painter Nicolaas Pieneman’s version of the same event.

In contrast, contemporary artists dive beyond realism.

Irene Agrivina, an innovative figure working at the intersection of art, science and technology, conducted unique research into the diet of Prince Diponegoro and his troops as part of her exploration of war and resilience.

Tech-savvy and conceptually driven, Irene discovered that the troops relied on local food known as nok santri, a traditional meal distribution practice incorporating ingredients like tempeh, eggs, dried fish or chicken scraps, sautéed young papaya leaves and rice. Their snacks included cassava mixed with palm sugar and grated coconut. Often preserved through fermentation, these foods became, unknowingly, battlegrounds for microbes, organisms fighting for survival beneath the surface.

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