The Loyal Wanderers: 50 Years of Teater Keliling
Text by Benito Lopulalan, Photos courtesy of Teater Keliling Some performers sing and dance gracefully, before moving and jumping rhythmically. The females wear batik cloth wrapped around their torsos, reminiscent of the traditional kemben of Javanese tradition. The stage is majestic, and the hall is filled with spectators. The play is titled “Mega-mega” (The Clouds),

Uncover a Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition with Marker/Matrix
At Galeri Salihara, from 19 April to 18 May 2025; Marker/Matrix is an invitation to reconsider the relationship between action and space, between trace and archive, between the temporary and the permanent in the context of printmaking. In the world of printmaking, the marker is the beginning of everything. It is the result of action,

Experience the Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice In Jakarta
The 4th edition of the Italian Film Festival 2025: Venice In Jakarta (ITAFF), which will take place from 22 to 27 April 2025, is a commitment by the Italian Cultural Center (Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta) to fostering cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Italy. In partnership once again with the Venice International Film Festival for

A Creative’s Guide to Bandung: Art, Design, and Inspiration in the City of Ideas
Bandung has long been a city of innovation. Once the playground of Dutch architects during the colonial era, this West Javanese capital remains an architectural treasure trove of Art Deco buildings. But Bandung isn’t just about its past—it’s a living, breathing hub of creativity, where students, artists, and designers shape its future. Home to some

Where the Sidewalks End: ISA Gallery’s Ode to the In-Between
Have you ever wondered what exists beyond the edges of certainty—the spaces between destinations, the pauses between decisions, the thresholds where one world blurs into another? Well, Where the Sidewalks End, the latest exhibition at ISA Gallery, invites you to step into these liminal spaces, where the familiar dissolves and the unknown hums with possibility.

Made by Margaret Yap: Shaping Stories and Purpose with Clay
6th-century Chinese philosopher Laozi, in his book Tao Te Ching, once said, “The potter shapes clay into vessels; on the wheel of life, we too are formed, bearing both beauty and purpose.” For Margaret Yap and Steven The – founders of Made by Margaret Yap Pottery-Ceramic Art Studio – like humans, pottery should be valued not
Searching for Indonesia’s Forgotten Kingdoms with Randall Rutledge’s New Book
For many Indonesians, our history is often divided into two distinct periods: pre-independence; marked by countless bloody battles to resist occupation by Dutch and Japanese colonial forces, and post-independence; the era of political turmoil foretold by Sukarno, who correctly predicted that the struggle against our own nation would be far harder than fighting external enemies.

The Papandayan International Jazz Online Competition: TPJC 2025 Calls All Jazz Musicians
After 4 successful editions since 2021, The Papandayan International Jazz Online Competition (TPJC) returns in 2025, ready to offer a 5th chance for jazz musicians worldwide to showcase their talents. This event adopts a hybrid concept, combining virtual platforms and social media, making it accessible to participants and audiences from various parts of the globe.

ARTOTEL Gelora Senayan – Jakarta Holds ‘Emerging Echoes’ Art Exhibition
Entering 2025, ARTOTEL Gelora Senayan – Jakarta presents its second art exhibition in collaboration with local artists. Titled ‘Emerging Echoes’, it features the works of two contemporary Indonesian artists, Firma Summa and Agustan. Emerging Echoes seeks to capture the rhythms and stories of everyday life through each artist’s unique perspective. Beyond just a display of

Kassian Cephas: The First Indonesian Photographer
Often recognised as Indonesia’s first photographer, Kassian Cephas has played an important role in capturing the essence of Indonesian culture, landscape, and society through his lens.Born in 1845 in Yogyakarta, Java, Cephas’s impact on Indonesian photography extends beyond his individual work. He was the first Indonesian to become a professional photographer, laying a foundation for

Why Jakarta Needs Cultural Collaboration, with Bambang Prihadi of Jakarta Arts Council
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Bambang Prihadi of Jakarta Arts Council talks to us about cultural collaboration. For the past five decades,

Why Jakarta Needs Music, with Nathania Karina of TRUST
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Nathania Karina of TRUST Orchestra talks to us about music. Nathania Karina and the Trinity Youth Symphony

Why Jakarta Needs Art Communities, with Ayu Utami of Salihara Art Centre
What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fostering and developing specific areas of culture. Ayu Utami of Salihara Art Centre talks to us about art communities and festivals.