Muhammad, often referred to as “Ucup,” was born in 1975 in East Java, and graduated from the Indonesian Institute of Art (ISI) in 1995. His practice is based on woodblock prints and paintings, and aims to shed light on injustice and inequality in Indonesia, often focusing on themes of political corruption, land and environmental destruction, consumerism, indigenous rights, and people’s solidarity. In 1998, during the later years of the Suharto administration, Ucup became a founding member of the Taring Padi artist-activist group. From its outset, Taring Padi sought to revive “People’s Culture”, advocating and strategising for democratic and popular change in Indonesia, resistance against elite discourse, as well as organising social and cultural events with a progressive and middle-class orientation. In 2009, Ucup was awarded the Mural Hikayat Indonesia at the Museum Palace Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In 2012 he was a finalist for the Graphic Triennale V, Indonesia, as well as the Bandung Contemporary Art Award. He has exhibited widely in Indonesia, Australia, Europe, and North America and throughout Asia.