Hendri Yulius Wijaya (1990, IDN) is this year’s Artist in Residence at Poetry International and is one of the few openly queer poets in Indonesia, as well as a key voice in Southeast Asia’s queer discourse. Under Indonesia’s conservative regime, that takes a special kind of courage. Wijaya storms that breach with pen in hand and heart on sleeve. In his work he offers a glimpse into how the norms imposed by family, community and country can constrict, and where he finds room or carves it out for himself. Always with the same resolve to simply be who he is and love who he wants.​

Notable information on Hendri Yulius Wijaya:

• Author of Stonewall Tak Mampir di Atlantis (2020), one of the first explicitly queer poetry collections in Indonesia.
• International speaker on queer culture and identity in Southeast Asia.
• Active as an essayist and opinion leader within the debate on LGBTQIA+ rights in Indonesia.

Why was Hendri Yulius Wijaya selected as Poetry International’s Poet in Residence?

Hendri has been chosen as Poet in Residence because, through his work, he addresses queerness and its surrounding culture on a global scale in a distinctive and deeply personal way. As a poet born in Indonesia, where the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are under pressure, Hendri challenges the dominant Eurocentric narratives around queerness and its acceptance.

At present, far-right nationalist and religion-driven politics exert significant influence on the persecution and violence faced by queer and trans Indonesians. Hendri is one of the few openly queer writers working in Bahasa, and he has spoken out about these issues in multiple ways, including through articles and opinion pieces. At the core of his practice lies his work as a poet. His poetry captures attention in a surprising and refreshing way, holding it through the difficult questions he raises. Through his work, we come to know Hendri’s imagination, as well as his dreams for the queer community in Southeast Asia. His poetry calls on us to let go of Western frameworks of reference, making space for pride and for celebrating ourselves without fear. In 2020, he published Stonewall Tak Mampir di Atlantis (translation: There Is No Stonewall in Atlantis), a debut collection that continues his activist struggle.

Hendri is the Poet in Residence this year because his work speaks powerfully and places him directly within the urgent and often dangerous debate in Indonesia, currently shaped by conservative and far-right political forces. Inviting Hendri to the Netherlands will, hopefully, provide him with a safe platform for his voice and artistic expression.