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
Exploring the Rhythms of Defiance and Order in Lucy Guerin’s One Single Action
Australia-based Lucy Guerin Inc brought their latest work, One Single Action, to the Salihara International Performing Arts Festival (SIPFest) 2024 on 17 and 18 August 2024, at the Salihara Community Art Centre. This 45-minute performance, while concise in its runtime, left the audience with plenty to contemplate. If there are two words that could sum
Preserving Traditional Indonesian Food
Indonesia is a mosaic of thousands of islands, and each island has its own culinary traditions, thus creating a huge mosaic of culinary diversity, possibly unmatched anywhere. And in Indonesia, food is not just the physical consumption of those unique flavours, but a window into the soul of its people. Food offers an immersive experience
Time, The Forgotten Ingredient
Taking inspiration from traditional kitchen processes, artisanal food company Crafted With Time brings back the magic of fermentation, harnessing the power of time to create restaurant-grade flavour-makers that pack a punch. Most Indonesians are aware that tempeh is made through fermentation, but many are less familiar with the widespread use of this ancient method in
Five Elements of Life: Pancha Mahabhuta Exhibition at The Apurva Kempinski Bali
For the 2024 Powerful Indonesia: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika program in parity with Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day, award-winning hotel The Apurva Kempinski Bali publicly presents the Gallery of Art ‘Pancha Mahabhuta’ Exhibition from 17 August to October 2024 in their Pendopo Lobby. An exclusive idiosyncratic voyage awaits, wherein renowned artists I Made Griyawan and Teja Astawa
COLLECTION 101 UBUD: Repatriating Indonesian Heritage
Many unique aspects of Indonesia’s cultural heritage remain relatively unknown to its citizens. Gaps in knowledge derived from archaeological research, translated into curated exhibitions of museum collections, conceal a myriad of historical accounts that distinguish Indonesia internationally. Since the beginning of the 1950s, countless exceptional Indonesian artworks and artefacts have left the country, finding homes
The Spice Islands of Indonesia: A Brief History Told Through Old Maps
Spices have been a cornerstone of global commerce for thousands of years, shaping the course of human history. From ancient societies to contemporary economies, spices have been instrumental in shaping diverse cultures and culinary traditions worldwide. The Allure of Spices: Why These Maps Exist From ancient times, aromatic plant products have been highly prized for
Unravelling Yogyakarta’s Street Art Scene with Begok Oner
Since I’ve had the honour of working as a writer for NOW! Jakarta, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive invitations to the openings of art galleries, exhibitions and auctions. In many cases, Jakarta’s art scene comes hand-in-hand with the city’s social circles, with great art coming at a high price, of course. Whilst this particular
ARTJOG Contemporary Art Festival Headlines Jogja Art Weeks 2024
Indonesian art’s annual celebration of creativity, Jogja Art Weeks (JAW), conducted throughout Yogyakarta’s Special Regency and north into Magelang, is a unique and exciting meeting point for Indonesian artists and national and international art lovers. The four-month program of events, which has distinguished Yogyakarta on the global art event calendar, is characterised by the diversity
Waste Not, Want Not: Crafting Furniture and Fashion from Agroforestry Waste with MYCL
In Bandung, a groundbreaking biotech company is redefining sustainability and innovation. Mycotech Lab, better known just as MYCL, transforms agroforestry waste into valuable mycelium materials, more commonly known as the roots of mushrooms, which are used in a wide range of products. These include shoes, wallets, jackets, wall tiles, countertops, tables, chairs, bricks, and various
IVAA: Safeguarding the Nation’s Artistic Heritage for Future Generations
Indonesia boasts a unique visual art heritage that distinguishes the nation globally and within Southeast Asia. However, a significant obstacle to preserving this rich heritage is the need for more public awareness about the importance of art and cultural development in Indonesian society. Indonesian Visual Art Archive (IVAA) in Yogyakarta is dedicated to the artistic
Fallen Angels: Indonesia’s Birds of Paradise
The bird of paradise, Cendrawasih in Bahasa Indonesia, holds a special place as a symbol of New Guinea and Indonesia, drawing visitors from around the globe to witness these majestic birds in their natural habitat on the second largest island in the world. However, for centuries, these birds remained as mysterious as the prized spices
