Dinda Mulia
A Better Night’s Sleep with Novotel Bali Ubud Resort
A three-day sleep-focused programme at Novotel Bali Ubud Resort introduces the hotel brand’s approach to healthier daily habits, from restorative rest and mindful eating to movement and human connection A good night’s sleep is one of the simplest things travellers hope to find on holiday, yet a change of scenery does not always guarantee proper
HANDEP and Wilsen Willim Weave a Future Worth Wearing
No one can deny that batik, songket and other forms of wastra – traditional Indonesian textiles – hold a particular place in how Indonesians dress for important occasions. We keep them carefully, bring them out for weddings, formal galas and other important occasions, then fold them away again until the next one comes along. Some
Primaya PGI Cikini Hospital: A Historic House of Care
When we speak of historical sites, what usually comes to mind might be citadels, monuments or even public parks. Somewhere as practical and everyday as a hospital rarely enters that picture. Yet one of Jakarta’s continuously operating hospitals – known today as Primaya PGI Cikini Hospital – stands on grounds that have served as a
Smoke, Spice and Everything Nice at SEMAJA Jakarta
Charcoal does its fair share of work for SEMAJA’s menu: caramelising the sweet marinade on the Wagyu Sate Maranggi; enhancing the Iga Konro Bakar with a smoky finish after its 48-hour sous-vide; and gives depth to the familiar Indonesian flavours. At this Menteng restaurant, fire and slow cooking offer a clear look at how the
A 150-Year-Old Journey Inspires a New France–Indonesia Literary Exchange
A 150-year-old French literary connection to Central Java is being put back to work. France and Indonesia have launched the Rimbaud Residency, their first bilateral and reciprocal literary residency programme, beginning with a three-month stay in Semarang by French-language writer Louis-Philippe Dalembert before an Indonesian writer heads to France in early 2027. The programme was
Terlihat / Terasa Exhibition by Rajata Hakim Asks How Much a Face Can Really Tell Us
There are 150 faces in Rajata Hakim’s Terlihat / Terasa, and almost as many reasons to distrust what a face seems to reveal. Now showing at The Darmawangsa Square, Second Floor, Unit 66, Kebayoran Baru, the multidisciplinary artist’s exhibition pairs portraits with anonymous recorded voices and historical figures, letting recognition repeatedly slip into uncertainty. Opened
Power, Memory and Regret Meet in Tadashi Suzuki’s King Lear
William Shakespeare’s King Lear, directed by Japanese theatre director Tadashi Suzuki, will make its first Jakarta appearance at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on 16 and 17 September 2026 at 8pm. Led by Indonesian actor Jamaluddin Latif in the title role, the production brings performers from eight countries into Suzuki’s stark reworking of Shakespeare’s ageing king, placing
Wilsen Willim and Dian Sastrowardoyo Create a New Vocabulary for the Kebaya
Designer Wilsen Willim and actress Dian Sastrowardoyo have joined forces on a ready-to-wear capsule collection that brings kebaya, beskap, surjan and other Indonesian dress forms into a contemporary wardrobe. Launched on National Kebaya Day on 24 July 2026, the 13-piece first chapter arrives ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations, with the complete collaboration scheduled to
‘Orfeus’ at SIPFest 2026: Melati Suryodarmo Morphs Grief into Movement
Six dancers sit on plain grey chairs, they’re barefoot and folded forward, hands heavy on their thighs. Behind them, a filmed figure walks along a brick wall while a woman in a long dark-grey dress crosses the stage. Nothing is dramatic about it, and maybe that is part of the beauty of the show, it
100% Manusia Film Festival Marks 10 Years with ‘A Decade of Love Language’
The 100% Manusia Film Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary from 6 to 15 August 2026 with 86 films from 21 countries, free screenings and a programme of public activities across 11 venues in Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta. Held under the theme ‘A Decade of Love Language’, the festival’s latest edition uses cinema, literature, art
From Wilhelmina Park to Istiqlal Mosque: The History of Jakarta’s Most Symbolic Site
The site on which Istiqlal Mosque was built near Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta, was once the colonial-era Wilhelmina Park, which also extended towards the Jakarta Cathedral. The historic Lapangan Banteng square and Medan Merdeka are also nearby—both clear examples of how post-independence Jakarta rewrote the meaning of its inherited spaces. Long before Southeast Asia’s
How Restaurant Design Shapes Jakarta’s Dining Experience
Isn’t it remarkable that before even entering a restaurant, we’re able to gauge, roughly, what type of experience awaits inside? At first, we might think that design is simply an attempt for venues to differentiate themselves, after all, in a city as competitive as Jakarta, they need to stand out. Whilst true, that’s not the
What Makes A Design ‘Indonesian’ Today?
Indonesia’s diversity is something to celebrate, but even blessings can come with complications. Just as defining Indonesian cuisine remains a constant debate among culinary experts, defining contemporary Indonesian design leads to a similarly elusive answer. The question appears simple, yet few experts seem able or willing to offer one definitive description. Does contemporary Indonesia have
