Jakarta’s Coastal Communities: Capturing Life at the Edge of Change
Indonesian photographers have turned their lenses toward the communities of Jakarta’s coastals, capturing powerful visual narratives that reveal the day-to-day realities of life on the frontlines. Their images portray a complex story of resilience, vulnerability, and the evolving relationship between people and their shifting environment. Indonesia’s coastline extends for over 54,716 km—making it the second
Beyond the Trends: Subeng Klasik’s Case on Why Heritage is Timeless
When it comes to jewellery, value is often measured by the weight of gold, the size of a stone, or the sway of trends. Yet on Benda Street in Kemang, one jeweller quietly resists this tide. When interests are easily influenced by what’s new, Subeng Klasik walks the other way– deliberate, grounded, and unapologetically Indonesian.
Marvel at Make Me Dirty: Ardi Gunawan Solo Exhibition Show
From 4 July to 12 September 2025, Made Me Dirty is the latest solo exhibition by Indonesian artist Ardi Gunawan curated by Hendro Wiyanto, presenting a body of work at ISA Art Gallery that oscillates between satire, political critique, emotional expression, and cultural mass media observation. Known for his humorous, grotesque, and deeply personal visual
ARTJOG 2025: Indonesia’s Premier Art Festival Returns for Its 18th Edition
Indonesia’s premier contemporary art festival ARTJOG 2025 is set to return from 20 June to 31 August 2025 at the Jogja National Museum in Yogyakarta. This year’s theme, Motif: Amalan (Practice) concludes the Motif trilogy that began in 2023, exploring the evolving relationship between art and society. Since 2018, ARTJOG has evolved beyond being merely
Enjoy Bold, Inclusive Cinema as Europe on Screen Turns 25
Europe on Screen (EoS), Indonesia’s longest-running international film festival, celebrates its 25th edition with an inclusive line-up that reflects the evolving voice of European cinema. Running from 13–22 June 2025 in 7 cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Medan, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Yogyakarta, the festival marks a quarter-century of Indonesia-Europe cross-cultural dialogue through film. This year, the
The Jakarta Concert Orchestra Presents Symphony For the Nation 2025: 8 Decades of Indonesian Music
In celebration of the nation’s rich musical heritage, the Jakarta Concert Orchestra, under the direction of conductor and music director Avip Priatna, presents “8 Decades of Indonesian Music” (8 Dekade Musik Indonesia). Taking place on Saturday, 2 August 2025 at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, the concert is part of the Symphony for the
Blue Matter Trio & Kinematics Win The Papandayan International Jazz Competition 2025
Following a rigorous selection and judging process, The Papandayan International Jazz Competition (TPJC) 2025 officially crowned Blue Matter Trio from Yogyakarta as the Youth Jazz Category Champion, and Kinematics from Japan as the Jazz Warrior Category Champion. TP Jazz is a jazz music event management initiative organized by The Papandayan Bandung and Media Group, held
Goethe-Institut’s ‘Living at the Urban Seafront’ Exhibition Puts Coastal Communities in Frame
In collaboration with the Bremen Centre for Building Culture, Goethe-Institut Indonesien presents the photography exhibition ‘Living at the Urban Seafront’. Featuring 47 works by 17 Indonesian and German photographers, the exhibition explores the lives of those caught in the intersection of land and sea. On display from 6 May to 1 June 2025, the exhibition
Borobudur Temple: A Marvel of Ancient Architecture
Located in the Kedu Valley, in the heart of the island of Java, Indonesia, lies the magnificent Borobudur Temple. This Buddhist temple, dating back to the 9th century, is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Borobudur temple’s unique architectural, spiritual and historical significance makes it
ara contemporary, Celebrating Southeast Asian Art
A new contemporary art gallery opens in Jakarta spotlighting artists from Southeast Asia and advocating for their practices both locally and internationally. Located in Jalan Tulodong Bawah, Senayan, ara contemporary was founded by three partners with over 15 years of experience in the art scene Fiesta Ramadanti, Fredy Chandra, and Megan Arlin. The name ara
Natasha Tontey Explores the Roots of Ritual
Indigenous rituals and practices are often taken out of context, exploited or exhibited for their aesthetic and exotic appeal. In reality, such traditions are rooted in ancient wisdom and a cultural identity that tells a much deeper story. This is a message that contemporary artist Natasha Tontey conveys through her art. Tontey reclaims her Minahasan
Biomaterials, Brewed Better: Bell Living Lab’s Innovative Use of Coffee Byproducts
Most wouldn’t think twice about the pulp left behind after brewing coffee, which is usually discarded without a second thought. But for Bell Living Lab, waste isn’t waste at all; it’s raw potential waiting to be turned into something valuable. This Bandung-based biomaterials producer is quietly reshaping the materials industry by taking agricultural waste and
A Passionate Call For the Return of Indonesia’s Golden Age of Reading Books
“We Indonesians don’t read!” is a common trope, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Indonesia, in fact, has a rich history in reading and writing, a culture deeply rooted in the nation’s intellectual traditions. Books were the treasured tools of the country’s earliest intelligentsia, playing a fundamental role in the growth and evolution
