Primate Art Competition

by Rosek Nursahid of KSBK (Animal Conservation for Life)
August 2001

Art contest winners with Rosek Nurahid of KSBK

In January 2001, KSBK, an Indonesian organization working for protection of the nation's wildlife, organized a primate art competition.

Young people were asked to make drawings of Indonesian primates. Contest sponsors included IPPL and the Gibbon Foundation.

This competition interested many people because 106 paintings were received by KSBK. The background of the contestants was varied; they included students at elementary schools, senior high schools and universities, painters, and others.

There were two themes in this painting contest: "Stop the Primate Trade" and "The best home for primates is in nature."

The primate to be painted had to be an Indonesian primate. Some contestants turned out not to know the native primates of Indonesia! No less than 30% of the contestants drew non-Indonesian primates, such as the gorilla and the chimpanzee.

The announcement of the winners of the painting contest was made on 17 February 2001 at the Montana Hotel, Malang, East Java, during a seminar on the conservation of Indonesian primates.

The first prize winner was Achmad Rosidi, he received 750,000 rupiahs (US $66), the second prize went to Agus Salim, and the third prize went to Tjahjo Pramono Sigit. Later, the drawings submitted by the finalists (12 paintings) were exhibited at the Indonesian primate exhibition at Malang Plaza.

The exhibition on Indonesian primates was also funded by IPPL and the Gibbon Foundation. The exhibition was held from 17-19 February 2001. Over 100 people attended every day.

Mother and baby monkey By Patar

No More Trading Agus Salim

Stop the Trade Before They’re Extinct Achmad Rosidi