In a world where art often intertwines with activism, Prof. Dr. Tulus Warsito is a rare voice of restraint—a celebrated political scientist who deliberately keeps his paintings free from political commentary. Though his credentials include decades of teaching international politics and publishing over a dozen books on diplomacy and governance, Tulus’s canvas is a sanctuary untouched by ideology, protests, or provocations.

A Scholar with a Brush
Tulus is not your typical artist. A full professor of international politics and cultural diplomacy at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, his intellectual résumé reads like that of a career statesman or diplomat. Holding a doctoral degree from Gadjah Mada University with a Cum Laude distinction, and with multiple prestigious scholarships under his belt—including fellowships in Japan and support from Indonesia’s Ministry of Education—Tulus has shaped minds for decades. Yet, when it comes to art, he chooses a completely different battlefield: the imagination.

“If I want to talk about politics, I’ll write a book or speak at a seminar,” he once said at one of his exhibitions at the National Gallery of Indonesia. “But my art? That’s where I go to find joy—for myself, and hopefully for those who see it.”

Pure Art in a Politicized World
While many artists use their work to comment on societal tensions, government policy, or global issues, Tulus draws a clear line. For him, painting is a form of liberation, not an extension of political discourse. His creations dive deep into the essence of visual exploration—obsessed not with the world outside, but the infinite variations within the world of form, color, and dimension.

His works often toy with the illusion of depth, creating shadowed shapes and intersecting lines that trick the eye into seeing space where there is none. “Flat versus spatial” becomes a kind of visual philosophy in his paintings, a collision between real and imagined, still and dynamic.

Despite his choice to stay apolitical in his art, Tulus doesn’t criticize those who choose otherwise. In fact, he acknowledges the challenges of creating meaningful political art, admitting, “It’s not easy to do politics and good visual art at the same time. Some succeed. Many don’t.”

A Personal Journey of Joy
Beneath the accolades—his Life Time Achievement Award in 2010, the publication of 13+ academic books, and his professorship—Tulus remains rooted in the simplest purpose: joy.

His art isn’t just a gallery display. It’s a testament to a personal philosophy: that not all expressions must carry a message. Sometimes, they just need to be beautiful.

“I don’t want my paintings to become tools. I want them to breathe freely,” he reflects.

Tulus Warsito represents a refreshing kind of duality: an academic who debates foreign policy by day and paints abstract realms by night. In an age of constant commentary, his work reminds us that sometimes, silence says the most.