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
When She Sings, When She Paints: Satya Cipta Solo Exhibition
Witness an artist’s longing for purity in nature, a desire to become nature, in this one-of-a-kind solo exhibition by Satya Cipta. ‘When She Sings, When She Paints’, on display at Galeri ZEN1 until 19 May, is a gentle but deep visual experience, with pieces inspired by the poems of the Balinese artist’s mentor. Balinese, but
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.
