Juliana Tan Remembers Through ‘A Kind of Magic’
Text by Cindy Julia Tobing, Images courtesy of Juliana Tan Juliana Tan’s award-nominated photobook, ‘A Kind of Magic’, revisits her childhood in Bandung before her displacement to Singapore, situating personal memory within the lasting impact of Indonesia’s 1998 unrest. The children who grew up in the shadow of May 1998—a dark chapter of violence and
Designing for Literacy: SHAU’s Vision to Create 100 Microlibraries in Indonesia
This article is part of a long-form feature ‘Spaces to Sink Into’, on how design contributes to comfort and wellbeing, in our January-February 2026 Edition ‘Living Slow in a Fast City’. Download the edition free here. Rumour has it that fast food chains in the past used uncomfortable furniture and clashing colours to encourage diners
Function Before Form: Designer Lianggono on Creating Comforting Spaces
This article is part of a long-form feature ‘Spaces to Sink Into’, on how design contributes to comfort and wellbeing, in our January-February 2026 Edition ‘Living Slow in a Fast City’. Download the edition free here. Interior designer and multidiscplinary artist, Lianggono, has a unique approach to designing homes. He discourages clients from sharing their
Crimson Gilt: Re-reading Maritime History through Art at Museum Kebaharian Jakarta
An exhibition at the Museum Kebaharian Jakarta (Jakarta’s Maritime Museum) invites visitors to confront a layered, uncomfortable, and deeply relevant past. Crimson Gilt, a site-specific installation by Amsterdam-based artist Vincent Ruijters, runs from 7 February to 7 April 2026, offering a transnational re-reading of maritime and colonial history through art, space, and collective memory. Ruijters,
Art Jakarta Papers 2026: A New Fair Dedicated to the Power of Paper
There’s a new and exciting event unfolding in Indonesia’s contemporary art scene. Art Jakarta Papers, an inaugural fair dedicated entirely to paper-based art, is coming to City Hall at Pondok Indah Mall 3 from 5–8 February 2026, bringing together 28 galleries from Indonesia and across Asia in a four-day long exhibitions, installations, and public programmes.
Bathing in Indonesia In Early Prints and Photographs
Bathing and cleanliness hold a significant place in Indonesian society, closely connected to the country’s tropical climate, religious beliefs, social customs, and overall well-being. Bathing is not merely a hygienic practice but is deeply rooted in spiritual, communal, and cultural traditions. When Europeans arrived in Indonesia from the 16th century onward, they were struck by
Art Through the Eyes of the Beholder: Inside Olafur Eliasson’s Immersive Exhibition in Jakarta
When entering Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey at Museum MACAN, your vision tilts, the colour thickens, and the world outside is muted. They say that our body adjusts before our mind does, an adjustment period one can really feel when immersed in the artist’s installations. There are rooms shaped by mist, reflections, shadows, and slow-moving
Hangi and Bubigi: A Feast of the Flames Unites Two Cultures
New Zealand and Indonesia recently enjoyed a moment of ‘gastronomic diplomacy’, expressed through a presentation of traditional cooking methods shared by both the Māori and Papuan peoples. Using roaring fires to heat stones that are later layered with fresh ingredients, the process produces dishes deeply rooted in ancestral culinary heritage. Beyond sustenance, this shared method
Festival Sinema Prancis 2025 Kicks off This November
The French Embassy and the Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI) have returned to present the 27th edition of the Festival Sinema Prancis (FSP), which embodies the spirit of freedom of expression and the power of cinema to unite cultures. The festival will take place from 21 November to 2 December, 2025, across 14 cities, including here
Wonderwhy Magazine Documents the Pulse of Southeast Asia
After years of digitally documenting micro-cultures across Southeast Asia, in the last year Wonderwhy ventured into the printed media landscape, sharing their stories through modern and design-forward publications that invite readers to explore authentic editorial takes. In October 2025, Wonderwhy published their third edition of the year, Mindful Eater, following the success of their two
The Indonesian Society of Botanical Artists: Where Science Meets Beauty
Botanical art is a unique fusion of science and aesthetics, where the method of observation meets the grace of artistic expression. More than simple flower paintings, botanical art is the careful study of plants translated into images that are scientifically accurate and visually appealing. Botanical artists turn to plants as subjects of study and sources
Design That Wakes Us Up: Dit Réveille’s Journey from Plastic Scraps to Modern Furniture
Out of sight, out of mind, waste continues to pile up indefinitely in Jakarta’s landfills. A silent and growing giant of environmental despair. One Depok-born furniture brand responds to this call with a mission to encourage people to confront the reality of climate change and reimagine the role of waste in everyday life. By recasting
Meet the Makers: Drinks Edition
Sip on something locally-brewed, crafted by local Jakartans to share their love for Indonesian ingredients, support local producers, and simply bring something completely fresh and innovative to the market. From fruit wines to infused sodas, these two local drinks producers have found their way into bars, cafés and kitchens across the city, and are as
