Henk Ngantung

Henk Ngantung
Henk Ngantung (1950s)
7th Governor of Jakarta
In office 1964–1965
Preceded by	Soemarno Sosroatmodjo
Succeeded by	Soemarno Sosroatmodjo
Personal details
Born	March 1, 1921 Manado, North Sulawesi
Died	12 December 1991 (1991-12-13) (aged 70) Jakarta
Spouse(s)	Hetty Evelyn Ngantung Mamesah
Profession	politician, artist
Religion	Christianity

Hendrik Hermanus Joel Ngantung better known as Henk Ngantung (born in Manado, North Sulawesi, Dutch East Indies, born March 1, 1921 - died in Jakarta, 12 December 1991) was an Indonesian painter and politician of Minahasan descent. He was appointed Deputy Governor by President Sukarno and then became Governor of Jakarta briefly between 1964 and 1965, the first Christian to hold this important post in predominantly Muslim Indonesia.

Henk Ngantung was born in the Minahasa heartland of North Sulawesi province in the capital city of Manado to poor family. Henk was a self-taught painter without any formal education. Together with Chairil Anwar and Asrul Sani, he co-founded the Indonesian artistic movement Gelanggang (meaning the arena). He was also the president of the board of the China-Indonesia Friendship from 1955 to 1958.

Henk Ngantung was married to Hetty Evelyn "Evie" Ngantung Mamesah and they had four children, Maya, Genie, Kamang and Karno Ngantung.

He became Deputy governor of Jakarta during the reign of governor Soemarno Sosroatmodjo. President Sukarno entrusted him of turning Jakarta into a city of culture based on his work as an artist. After holding the post of deputy governor from 1960 to 1964, he succeeded Soemarno Sosroatmodjo as governor of Jakarta but very briefly 1964–1965 before Soemarno Sosroatmodjo retaking the position in 1965 again briefly until 1966. His appointment was vehemently opposed for his left-wing ideology with some opponents accusing him of being a communist.

From 1965 onwards, he consecrated his life to the arts. He lived in poverty, suffered bad health and developed heart disease and glaucoma. He lost eyesight completely in his right eye, and just 30% vision in the left eye, but continued painting with great difficulty. In 1990, the Indonesian businessman and philanthropist Ciputra sponsored Henk Ngantung's one and only official exhibition just a month before his death on 12 December 1991.