# Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Paintings Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Paintings is an exploitable photo meme featuring Indonesia's sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (commonly known as SBY), posing proudly beside several of his own paintings. After the original photos went viral in August 2021, Indonesian internet users edited the image by swapping out SBY's artwork for various memes, famous paintings, and pop culture references[2]. ## Origin On August 7, 2021, Instagram user @jansensitindaon uploaded a series of photos showing Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono displaying his paintings[1]. SBY served as Indonesia's president from 2004 to 2014 and took up painting after leaving office[2]. The Instagram post picked up more than 20,100 likes within three days. That same day, Facebook user Sanjaya Kuss Indarto reposted the image, where it collected over 2,200 reactions and 1,300 shares in the same timeframe[1]. - **Platform:** Instagram (source photo), Facebook (viral spread) - **Creator:** @jansensitindaon (original poster), Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (subject) - **Date:** 2021 ## Overview The meme uses a photograph of former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono standing in what appears to be a personal gallery, gesturing toward several framed paintings he created. The composition, with SBY looking pleased alongside multiple canvases, made it a natural exploitable template. Editors replace the visible paintings with anything from iconic Squidward art pieces to anime scenes to classical masterworks, while SBY's proud pose stays intact[1]. ## How It Spread The photo caught fire quickly among Indonesian-speaking internet users, who immediately recognized the exploitable potential of SBY's gallery pose. On August 7, 2021, Facebook user Gavyn Yudhistira posted an edited version replacing SBY's paintings with iconic Squidward Tentacles artworks. That edit pulled in 410 reactions and 820 shares within three days[1]. The next day, the Indonesian Facebook page Televi S H I T P O S T I N G shared a version that hit over 1,900 reactions and 166 shares. Also on August 8, the Facebook page for Indonesian webcomic Si Juki uploaded an edit swapping the paintings for famous works of art including "The Scream" and "The Mona Lisa," earning more than 2,200 reactions and 1,300 shares in two days[1]. The meme jumped to other platforms on August 8 when Facebook user Hanung posted an edit featuring a Neon Genesis Evangelion scene in place of the paintings, getting over 780 reactions and 1,200 shares. Twitter user @Medanseni shared the image the same day, reaching more than 1,300 likes and 348 retweets[1]. On August 9, Instagram user @komikkitaig uploaded a cartoonish redrawn version of the photo that picked up over 3,800 likes in less than a day[1]. ## How to Use The format is straightforward. Find the original photo of SBY standing beside his paintings, then replace the visible canvases with images of your choosing. Common approaches include: - Swapping paintings for well-known meme images or reaction faces - Inserting famous artworks (real or fictional) as if SBY painted them - Adding anime screenshots, video game scenes, or pop culture references - Creating a cartoonish or illustrated redraw of the entire scene The humor typically comes from the contrast between SBY's dignified, proud demeanor and whatever absurd or unexpected "artwork" now fills the frames. The more ridiculous the replacement, the better the joke tends to land. ## Cultural Impact The meme spread almost exclusively within Indonesian internet communities, making it a strong example of region-specific meme culture. SBY's status as a well-known former head of state gave the template immediate recognition among Indonesian speakers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram[1]. The rapid adoption by established Indonesian meme pages like Si Juki and Televi S H I T P O S T I N G helped the format reach a wide domestic audience within its first 48 hours[1]. ## Fun Facts - SBY's original paintings in the photos were genuine. He took up painting as a hobby after his presidency ended in 2014. - The meme spread almost entirely in Indonesian-language communities, making it one of the more locally contained exploitable memes of 2021. - The original Instagram post by @jansensitindaon hit 20,100 likes in just three days, suggesting strong organic interest in SBY's art even before the edits started[1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Paintings meme? It's an exploitable image meme based on a photo of former Indonesian president SBY posing with his paintings. People edit the image by replacing the paintings with memes, famous artworks, or pop culture references[1]. ### Where did the SBY Paintings meme come from? Instagram user @jansensitindaon posted the original photos on August 7, 2021. The images were quickly reposted to Facebook and edited by Indonesian meme creators[1]. ### What does the SBY Paintings meme mean? The meme plays on the contrast between SBY's proud, dignified pose and whatever absurd or funny image replaces his actual paintings. It's a lighthearted format with no particular political message[1]. ### How do you use the SBY Paintings meme? Take the original photo and replace the visible paintings with any image. The joke works best when the replacement is unexpected or absurd compared to SBY's serious gallery pose[1]. ### Is the SBY Paintings meme still popular? The meme had a concentrated burst of popularity in August 2021, primarily among Indonesian internet users. It has largely faded from regular use since then[1]. ### Who is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? SBY served as Indonesia's sixth president from 2004 to 2014[2]. After leaving office, he pursued painting as a hobby, which led to the viral photos that spawned the meme[1]. ### What were the most popular edits? The Squidward Tentacles paintings edit and the Si Juki classical art version (featuring "The Scream" and "The Mona Lisa") were among the most widely shared variants[1]. ## References 1. [2025 Indonesian protests]() 2. [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Paintings - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-paintings Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library