Painter, sculptor, installation artist and teacher, Heri Dono is one of the best-known contemporary Indonesian artists with a high international profile. His works are often trenchant commentaries on politics, society and the environment (deforestation in Kalimantan and Sumatra) in Indonesia, particularly during the Suharto ruling regime from 1967 to 1998. His characters are forged in wayang kulit imagery and puppetry, a result of his one-year tutelage under master Sukasman in 1987. He graduated from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1980-87), where he won the Best Painting Prize in 1981 and 1985 but decided to drop out as a matter of principle. His accolades include the Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands (1998), the Unesco Prize for Shanghai Biennale (2000). Since 1990, he has had residencies in Switzerland, Britain, the United States, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Brazil. He has participated in major events such as the first Asia-Pacific Triennial in Brisbane (1993), the Zone of Urgency in the 2003 Venice Biennale, and Art Stage Singapore (2014).