German Painter's Finger Painting Action at Borobudur Temple

German painter Christopher Lehmpfuhl painted Borobudur Temple using a hand technique or finger painting at Kenari Field, zone I Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Monday (4/8/2025).

This activity was initiated by the SBY Art Community, an art community founded by the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and supported by the Borobudur Authority Implementation Agency (BPOB), the Borobudur Museum and Cultural Heritage and PT Taman Wisata Borobudur. 

The Coordinator of the Personal Staff of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Colonel Tumpal Raines Napitupulu, explained that the program, which is one of the SBY Art Community agendas, aims to provide opportunities for artists to create and introduce the beauty of Indonesia. 

"This program aims to introduce the beauty and historical value of Borobudur Temple to the world through painting," said Colonel Tumpal Raines Napitupulu.

He also added that all the works produced will be exhibited at the prestigious Sister City Event Jakarta–Berlin in June 2026. This collaboration is not only an artistic exchange event, but also a concrete step in promoting Borobudur Temple to the world.

Christopher Lehmpfuhl is a painter familiar with expressionist styles and finger painting techniques. His exhibition also featured four painters from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta and Surakarta, an independent painter, and a local artist from Magelang.

Christopher Lehmpfuhl expressed his admiration for Borobudur and his commitment to sharing its wonders with the world through painting. This was his first time visiting Indonesia and painting Borobudur Temple directly. "I feel honored to be able to paint this sacred place," he said. 

This collaboration demonstrates how art can be a powerful bridge to promote the beauty and richness of Indonesian culture to the global stage.