Why Jakarta Needs Contemporary Art, with Venus Lau of Museum MACAN
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. Venus Lau of Museum MACAN talks to us about art. London has the Tate Modern,

Jakarta’s Cultural Communities: Seeking the Artistic Connection
Jakarta’s cultural communities know that the very essence of art is community: it can only thrive on human connection and inter-activity. It can also bridge divides and unite differences. And in a world where rapidly evolving technologies are in fact isolating us further from each other, we must find ways to connect and engage in

SukkhaCitta: Securing the Roots of Fashion
The proverb “it takes a village” rings true for more things than just raising a child. In the case of Indonesia’s most sustainable fashion brand, SukkhaCitta, it is in the villages where real positive impact can be made. Here is how a ‘farm-to-closet’ philosophy changed fashion’s relationship with nature, culture and community.The modern fashion industry

Sing Dance Cry Breathe: Korakrit Arunanondchai Externalises Human Emotion in Museum MACAN’S Latest Exhibition
One of Jakarta’s most significant conduits to the global art scene, Museum MACAN’s latest exhibition presents the works of Thai-born, New York and Bangkok-based artist, Korakrit Arunanondchai. The exhibition, titled ‘Sing Dance Cry Breathe | as their worlds collide on screen’ invites the audience into a vibrant theatre of ‘non-human actors’, where voice, song and

An Invitation to Dream: The Art of Davina Stephens
Palm-fringed white sandy beaches border remote coral isles engulfed by aquamarine seas. Lush, verdant landscapes merge with mountain skylines inhabited by age-old traditional cultures far from the Western gaze. Foreign artists have long been inspired by the allure of the tropics and the exotic East. However, few portray the cultural distinctions complemented by beauty as

Indies Gallery: Aviation History in Indonesia
Spanning over 17 thousand islands, Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, relies heavily on air travel for connectivity. With 683 airports facilitating over 500 thousand domestic flights annually and millions of travellers from abroad, aviation plays a vital role. Astonishingly, it’s just been exactly a century since the first European flight touched down in Indonesia. In

Beema Honey: Cultivating the Health Benefits of Indonesia’s Wild Bees
Intrigued by the potential health benefits of honey, Fransisca Natalia and Jeremy Cooper delved deeper into nature’s own sweetener. In their search for natural honey, they were surprised to find so few Indonesian-sourced products, leading them to start Beema Honey. Their journey in this new field began an eye-opening discovery into the magic of bees,

Jakarta Biennale 2024: Celebrating 50 Years of Contemporary Indonesian Art
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Jakarta Biennale, which will be held from 1 October to 15 November 2024. Held across 50 days at the Emiria Soenassa and S. Sudjojono galleries in Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), the event spotlights Jakarta’s diverse art collectives, all members of the Majelis Jakarta (Jakarta Assembly), to nurture

Supporting Innovation and Sustainability, ASHTA District 8 Presents INTERPLAY
ASHTA District 8, one of the projects under ASRI (a subsidiary of Agung Sedayu Group) consistently supports the principle of sustainability. A series of “INTERPLAY” activities presented at the Melting Pot using recycled materials can be enjoyed by all visitors from 9 to 19 October 2024. As a company committed to social and environmental responsibility,

Art Jakarta 2024 Marks the Return of Indonesia’s Flagship Art Fair
Art Jakarta, Indonesia’s flagship art fair, is back on 4–6 October 2024. With a clear focus on Southeast Asia and hosted in the region’s dynamic center for contemporary art, it is a vibrant international forum for all stakeholders of this important art ecosystem. At JIExpo Kemayoran, Art Jakarta 2024 brings together a diverse line-up of

Art Jakarta 2024: Presenting the Best of Indonesian & Regional Contemporary Art
Art Jakarta, Southeast Asia’s most significant and prestigious art fair, returns on 4 – 6 October 2024 to JIExpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta. Art Jakarta plays an essential role in the development of contemporary culture as a dynamic point of connectivity for art industry stakeholders and the evolving sectors within the region’s burgeoning creative economy. Bringing together

The Origins of Tajen in Indonesia: A Time-Honoured Tradition
Cockfighting, known locally as tajen or sabung ayam is not merely a pastime in Indonesia; it is a cultural institution deeply intertwined especially with Bali’s spiritual beliefs. Today, it is a familiar image of wicker baskets lining roads around Indonesia, housing roosters as they are toughened up with traffic sounds. In this article, Sake Santema

Indonesia’s Upcycling Artisans: Turning Trash Into Treasure
The quote “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” perfectly captures the essence of these artisan shops. Transforming waste into sophisticated, high-quality goods is no easy feat, yet these shops have embraced the challenge by repurposing what was considered waste materials and establishing businesses that are not only environmentally-friendly but also purposefully sustainable. Popsiklus Popsiklus