Kartika Affandi-Koberl was born in Jakarta in 1934. She is the daughter of Affandi and Maryati, who were both artists. Kartika became engaged to a young Javanese artist, Saptohudoyo, at the age of fourteen and when she was seventeen they were married. She bore Sapto eight children.

Kartika never received formal art instruction. From the age of seven, she was instructed by Affandi in how to paint with fingers and tubes directly on the canvas. Any mixing of colours is done on her hands and wrists. Kartika has no permanent studio; like Affandi, she prefers to paint outside in the village environment where she interacts directly with her subjects and on-lookers. This contrasts with most contempor...