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
Kebaya: The Very Untraditional Traditional Dress
It is surprisingly difficult to answer a seemingly simple question: ‘What is a kebaya?‘ Every few years, the internet erupts with familiar debates: “The kebaya has changed too much.” “That’s not a real kebaya.” “This isn’t pakem (according to custom).” Behind these arguments lies an assumption that somewhere in history there existed a single, original
ARTJOG 2026 Polemic Opens the Door to Transparency & Positive Structural & Ideological Reform
The opening of ARTJOG 2026, Indonesia’s premiere contemporary art festival at the Jogja National Museum (JNM), Yogyakarta, June 19, 2026 was marred by spectacle and controversy. An activist from the ArtJokes collective threw red paint at the JMN entrance art installation, proclaiming, “Literature is dead, art is dead. Intellectuals without a sense of rebellion are
Balinese Artist Agus Putu Suyadnya’s Monumental Universal I
Memori Kosmik (Cosmic Memory), forged from the stone of Indonesia’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi, is an imposing, figurative sculpture standing over two metres high. It depicts an astronaut designed as a mythic Hindu god: one hand clutches a globe of the earth, the other raised in a sacred mudra. Its golden, luminescent visor, reflecting
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
Inside Indonesia Design Week 2026’s Biggest Edition Yet
Opening on 18 September, Indonesia Design Week (IDW) 2026 is set to be the event’s biggest iteration yet. Previously set within the grounds of Indonesia Design District PIK2, this year’s expo will spread beyond these borders, with exhibitions, installations, fashion, craft and community programmes taking place across several destinations in PIK and PIK2 until 27
From East Indies to Indonesia: The Evolution of Architecture in the Archipelago
From vernacular houses and ancient temples to colonial landmarks and contemporary structures, Indonesia’s architecture reflects centuries of cultural exchange, adaptation and innovation. Shaped by traditions, environment, climate and, of course, social aspirations through the centuries, the nation’s built environment tells a story not only of architectural transformation, but also of Indonesia’s continuing search for identity
A Weekend in Tune at The Gaia Hotel Bandung
The Gaia Music Festival (GMF) returned for its fifth edition on 14–15 August 2026. Bearing the theme Music for All, the festival reflected the belief that music is a shared space for everyone, transcending genres and backgrounds through a stellar line-up of musical acts. Against the cool, serene backdrop of the Bandung valley, expertly crafted
Kali Besar: The Waterway of Jakarta’s Historical Past
Nestled in the heart of Jakarta’s Kota Tua (Old Town), the Kali Besar river stands as a living testament to the city’s rich and layered history. For centuries, this historic canal has witnessed the rise and fall of ancient Hindu kingdoms, the height of Dutch colonial trade, and the city’s ongoing modern revitalisation efforts. Kali
‘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
Mirage at ARTSPACE: The World Through Nine Artists
ARTSPACE at ARTOTEL Gelora Senayan opens its 2026 exhibition programme with Mirage, a group exhibition presented in collaboration with J+ Art Awards 2026 by Connected Art Platform. On view until 24 October, the exhibition brings together ten works by nine artists, each approaching contemporary life from a different perspective. The works touch on a wide
