National Gallery of Indonesia

Indonesia's national art institution. The National Gallery of Indonesia, or Galeri Nasional Indonesia, is the country's principal public art gallery, located in central Jakarta near Gambir railway station and the Merdeka Square area. It cares for a national collection of modern and contemporary Indonesian art and stages a busy programme of temporary exhibitions in a cluster of historic and modern pavilions.

A colonial compound reborn. The gallery occupies a nineteenth-century colonial-era building set in a walled garden, once part of a mission and school complex, later adapted for the display of art. The white, columned architecture provides an elegant frame for the works, while additional exhibition halls allow larger and more experimental shows to run alongside the permanent displays.

Collections and highlights. The permanent holdings include paintings, sculptures and works on paper by leading figures of Indonesian art, among them the pioneering nineteenth-century painter Raden Saleh and the celebrated modern master Affandi, together with international pieces. Rotating exhibitions cover contemporary practice from across the archipelago and abroad, making the gallery a central meeting point for the national art scene and its public.

Visiting. The gallery is within walking distance of Gambir station and the vast Merdeka Square with its national monument, and is easy to fold into a day exploring central Jakarta. Admission is inexpensive or free depending on the exhibition, and the main pavilions are accessible at ground level. Allow one to two hours, and check current programming, since the temporary shows change frequently and often feature ambitious installations. It offers an accessible overview of how Indonesian art has developed from the colonial era to the present. A cafe and shop occupy part of the grounds, and the shaded garden between the pavilions is a pleasant place to pause.