The creation of socially themed art is founded on the premise that an artist is a member of society with inherent social obligations. During the New Order era (1966–98), artists in Indonesia who addressed social issues raised the theme of resistance to the Suharto government’s repressive and harsh political practices, particularly those related to policies that were not in favor of the people. This resistance was consistent with movements led by activists and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) at the
