Japanese Artist Sho Shibuya Highlights Big Demo In Indonesia Through Artwork

Japanese artist Sho Shibuya's red and white flag painting (Photo: Instagram/@shishibuya)

JAKARTA The Japanese artist, Sho Shibuya, highlighted the crisis situation that occurred in Indonesia through a simple but powerful painting work, in the form of a combination of red and white colors that are synonymous with the Indonesian flag.

In his work, Shibuya displays red and white gradation as if it was the front cover of the United States' famous newspaper, The New York Times.

The painting was made to coincide with a news issue on major demonstrations in Indonesia, which also reported the tragedy of the death of Affan Kurniawan on Friday, August 29, 2025.

The work was then shared through his personal Instagram account @shishibuya, complete with videos and screenshots of reports of demonstrations in Indonesia that have been rife in recent times.

"INDONESIA," Sho wrote in the description of the upload.

This upload immediately drew many responses from netizens, including the Indonesian people who were touched and grateful for the form of Shibuya's support.

"Thank you. Our government acts like garbage. We need to be removed immediately," wrote the netizen.

"Thank you for your support," said another netizen.

"The Indonesian government has silenced TikTok & all media in Indonesia. Worse, last night the police threw a demonstration into the river. Stay with us." said a netizen.

Sho Shibuya is widely known for his habit of using The New York Times front page as a canvas. For years he painted morning sky gradations, before later turning to works that responded to actual events.

Behind his work, Shibuya still captures natural phenomena every day as a way to preserve time. In an interview, he revealed the process of thinking behind his work.

"I am a Japanese painter who lives in Brooklyn. My job as a painter started after I saw On Kawara's work in the Date Painting series in 2016. I like to explore the meaning of time. Time is always moving, so is nature," said Shibuya, quoted from the Yokogao Megazine page.

"I paint every day to capture the time I'm living. Merpati is always on the same roof every 7 am, the sun always rises every day. I paint every day," he added.

For Shibuya, painting is not just artistic activity, but a way to capture the moment.

"For me this is an instinct, we take pictures to capture moments, or write daily books. It shows appreciation for the time, the recognition that time flows and never stops, nothing lasts forever, so we respect every moment. My visual daily book is my way of preserving time," he continued.

Shibuya emphasized his commitment to continue painting for life.

"Yes, continuity is important. I believe painting every day without pause will shape my way of life. When I die, then my work is finished and I'm looking forward to it. This is the first time I'm not afraid to think about the concept of death." he said.