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Jakarta Post
 (Courtesy of The Ministry of Culture)
(Courtesy of The Ministry of Culture)
Art & Culture

Fadli Zon emphasizes Indonesia’s role in global cultural policy at UNESCO MONDIACULT 2025

During his state visit to Europe, Culture Minister Fadli Zon attended this year’s UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT) in Barcelona, Spain.

6 days ago
Art & Culture premium

‘CONTINUUM’: Tracing CAN’S Gallery’s journey from the periphery to the world

A journey that began in a quiet Jakarta neighborhood has carried CAN’S Gallery across continents and through decades: nurturing Indonesian artists, embracing new voices and celebrating a quarter-century of artistic evolution.

1 week ago
Art & Culture premium

‘Hikayat Nusantara’: When theatrical legends come alive

A spectacular fusion of Indonesian heritage and Broadway-style grandeur, the production dazzled the audience with 1,500 performers, lavish costumes and timeless folktales retold for a new generation.

1 week ago

The Latest

Art & Culture premium

Heri Dono, the beloved wizard of contemporary art

Blending mythology, politics and boundless imagination, the artist’s fantastical creation continues to challenge hegemonic powers with its vision of a borderless future.

3 weeks ago
Art & Culture premium

JICAF 2025: From local creativity to global recognition

Returning for its third edition from Sept. 18 to Oct. 5 at Senayan City, this year’s illustration fair offers a vibrant lineup of artists that highlights the rise of a uniquely Indonesian visual arts culture.

3 weeks ago
Art & Culture

New Banksy artwork challenges UK's protest crackdown

Free speech has become a hot topic in the UK, with people from across the political spectrum complaining that the law is too heavy-handed.

3 weeks ago
Art & Culture premium

Art & Bali 2025: Terra Nexus presents convergence of contemporaneous creativity

Under the fair's broader theme of “Bridging Dichotomies”, Terra Nexus encourages viewers to engage with diverse perspectives on the current state of the world and perhaps imagine a better future through a blend of diverse mediums and genres.

1 month ago
Art & Culture

Stella Atmadja, a Young Cinephile, Donates Proceeds from Her Work to Support Filmmakers

Stella Moira Atmadja, a student at Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) and a cinephile, is taking concrete steps to support the advancement of Indonesian cinema.

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

‘80 Tahun Keberagaman’: Indonesia’s unity in diversity through the lens

The exhibition, held beside the Plataran Arca at the National Museum, transforms a 450-square-meter hall into an enchanting bamboo forest, with shadowy corridors and rows of bamboo poles evoking a mythical labyrinth.

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

Popomangun, Low Moromi explore life's rhythm in geometry, cloud

Curator Gie Sanjaya said the title "Organic Rhythm" was chosen to reflect the artists’ shared effort to express the flow of life and their spirituality, even as they come from different cultural backgrounds.

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

Indonesia heads to BRICS+ Fashion Summit and Front Row Paris

Indonesian designers and industry representatives are heading to two major events this week and next to spread the country’s wealth of traditional textiles and modern creativity to global fashion enthusiasts.

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

‘The Gaza Monologues’ bring Palestinian stories to Literature and Ideas Festival

Jakarta’s Literature and Ideas Festival ends on a solemn note with The Gaza Monologues—firsthand stories from a war zone.

1 month ago
Art & Culture

Youth-led roomforlit launches cultural dialogue to expand literacy efforts in Indonesia

A study by Central Connecticut State University ranked Indonesia 60th out of 61 in literacy, besting only Botswana. Literacy serves as the basis for individual development, societal progress and economic growth and therefore the country must do what it can to improve its standing in the world. 

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

NYALA: Java war and the impact on contemporary artists

Two centuries on, Prince Diponegoro’s legacy lives on in a Galeri Nasional show linking past resistance to present-day struggles.

1 month ago
Art & Culture premium

Cikini 82: Reviving heritage, creating connections

A historic residence at Jl. Cikini Raya No. 82 in Jakarta, once neglected, has been restored and transformed into a vibrant creative space that celebrates Indonesia’s enduring legacy.

1 month ago
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Ternate and Papanggo: Echoes of a shared past

Centuries-old ties between Indonesia and the Philippines came to light in a Jakarta lecture, as place names like Ternate and Papanggo revealed a largely forgotten history.

1 month ago
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‘Mencari Semar’: Teater Koma seeks ancient wisdom in the digital age

The play unfolds in the futuristic realm of the Nimacha Empire, where humans are gradually being overpowered by droids and robots.

1 month ago
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Artistic heritage meets modern beats at 2025 ‘Pagelaran Sabang Merauke’

Music director Elwin Hendrijanto says the show will fuse contemporary arrangements with traditional sounds like Kalimantan’s Karungut and the Batak song “Rambadia”.

1 month ago
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LIFEs 2025 explores national identity through art and literature

The Literature and Ideas Festival returns from Aug. 8-16 with "Menjadi Indonesia", featuring over 35 performers.

2 months ago
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‘Beyond Unsettled Past’: Revisiting Indonesia’s colonial legacies

The exhibition, held at in Erasmus Huis in Jakarta, reexamines colonial legacies through a distinctly Indonesian lens. Curated by historian Sadiah Boonstra and artist Sukiato Khurniawan, the show features powerful works by six artists that confront the lingering imprints of colonialism on society.

2 months ago
Art & Culture premium

Dancing in harmony: 75 Years of Indonesia-Thailand diplomacy

From the graceful Thai Blessing Dance to the vibrant Indonesian Puspa Mekar, the performance blended traditional melodies and symbolism, captivating the audience with a shared spirit of peace and unity.

2 months ago
Art & Culture premium

Diponegoro lives on, two centuries after the fact

Although the Java War started two centuries ago, the story of Diponegoro's heroism remains fresh to Indonesians today thanks to many serious scholarly works as well as the products of pop culture which advertise his trials and tribulations. The following is a non-exhaustive list of scholarly works and popular retellings of Diponegoro's life.

2 months ago
Art & Culture premium

Back on the reel: Arkipel 2025 channels ‘Years of Living Dangerously’

The organizer took the theme, reflecting on the current geopolitical situation, that colonialism persists, particularly in Palestine, some 70 years after the conference. 

2 months ago
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‘ProGress’: An exhibition for looking ahead

At Neo Gallery’s ProGress exhibition, former art insiders step into the spotlight as they trade their roles as curators and collectors to finally become artists themselves.

2 months ago
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‘Ghosts of Hell Creek’: Echoes of mass extinction and a call for harmony

The piece transports audiences into the prehistoric world, just before the Chicxulub asteroid struck earth 66 million years ago. At the heart of the story is the Acheroraptor, one of the last dinosaurs to walk the planet.

3 months ago
Art & Culture

From youth to rhythm, Sarawak’s twin celebrations of sustainability and culture

From rainforest dialogues to global rhythms, Sarawak is hosting two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic events, the Rainforest Youth Summit 2025 (RAYS) and the Rainforest World Music Festival 2025 (RWMF) this week, charting a bold, intergenerational vision for sustainable tourism, environmental leadership and cultural connection in the heart of Borneo.

3 months ago
Art & Culture premium

‘The Hidden Treasures of Sudjana Kerton’: Remembering for tomorrow

Amid today’s digital art surge, the exhibition, running from June 11 to 26, invites us to reflect on Indonesia’s history through his powerful, timeless works.

3 months ago
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Jia CURATED 2025: Celebrating evolving perspectives in design, art and culture

Jia CURATED returns bigger than ever, showcasing 70 curated presentations and spotlighting around 150 designers and brands from Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

3 months ago
Art & Culture premium

Art therapy: Healing the mind, freeing the creative spirit

An art therapist leads sessions online and at her studio in Florence, Italy. But she believes anyone can enjoy art as a form of emotional release or self-expression from the comfort of home.

3 months ago
Art & Culture

Johann Strauss's 'Blue Danube' waltzes into outer space

But the world-famous waltz truly travelled among the stars on Saturday when the European Space Agency's antenna broadcast a live performance of it into space to celebrate the composer's 200th birthday.

4 months ago