TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post
'Flying Angels’ (1996) by Heri Dono, fiberglass, fabric, bamboo, acrylic paint, electronic and mechanical devices, cable, automatic timer, 100 x 60 cm (Courtesy of Heri Dono)
'Flying Angels’ (1996) by Heri Dono, fiberglass, fabric, bamboo, acrylic paint, electronic and mechanical devices, cable, automatic timer, 100 x 60 cm (Courtesy of Heri Dono)
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.

4 days 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.

4 days 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.

5 days ago

The Latest

Art & Culture

Louvre says Mona Lisa could get a room of her own

Such a move would give visitors, many of whom visit the Louvre for the iconic painting alone, a better experience, Laurence des Cars told the France Inter broadcaster.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 million euros

Hong Kong gallery HomeArt snapped up the "Bildnis Fraeulein Lieser" ("Portrait of Miss Lieser"), which was commissioned by a wealthy Jewish industrialist's family and painted by the symbolist master Klimt in 1917 shortly before he died.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Indonesian modest fashion: From tradition to trendsetter

The Indonesian fashion landscape has been moving toward sharia-conforming clothing, locally known as syar'i clothing, which can range from a simple selendang (thin scarf) to more delicate and intricate designs that are still easy to wear. 

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Cerita Kaca: Reflections on Indonesia's reverse glass paintings

An exhibition at Dia.Lo.Gue takes a look at the art of reverse glass painting, which originated in Europe and reached its heyday in Indonesia in the 19th and 20th centuries, when local artists infused their works with Chinese techniques.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

What If Lab: Public space made possible at Kampung Susun Kunir

 An urban exhibition showcases the perseverance of Kampung Kunir residents in defending their neighborhood. Turning the demolition of their homes into a low-cost apartment complex.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

US sculptor Richard Serra, known for towering minimalism, dies at 85

His strikingly large pieces are installed all over the world, from Paris museums to the Qatari desert, and have sometimes sparked controversy over their imposing nature.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Discovery of ancient inscriptions adds new story to beginning of Batak script

Three ancient inscriptions found in North Sumatra show the possible transition from the ancient Sumatran script to the currently known Batak script.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Gugug: A free-spirited, silent observer of everyday life

An exhibition to celebrate 25 years of comic strip ‘Gugug!’ embodies the canine character’s free and adventurous spirit.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Short story: Not so bright lights, Sinking City

After snoozing four times, you turn off your alarm at 5:43 a.m. You list your gratitude: your slim thighs, your mother, your Timberland shoes. Unlike half the office, you’re grateful you’re not being forced to move to IKN or to get married. Mostly, you’re grateful for your phone and Angel, your two-year-old gray Munchkin cat.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

‘Voice Against Reason’: Challenging norms and inspiring reflection through art

Artists from Indonesian and other countries try to break down long-held beliefs, practices and a semblance of normalcy through a variety of works compassing fine arts and performance arts, as well as anything in between, in an exhibition at the Museum MACAN. 

1 year ago
Art & Culture

Abandoned Singapore mall becomes unlikely art haven

Around half a century old, Peace Centre is scheduled to face the wrecking ball later this year, but fans say it has provided a rare space for self-expression.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

National Museum unites multidisciplinary experts to rise from the ashes

The Museum National is working hard to restore artifacts affected by a fire that tore through Building A in September 2023, as well as implementing renovations that are scheduled to take over a year.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

Calling all guitar heroes, The Smashing Pumpkins are hiring

The influential alt rockers who achieved 1990s fame with hits including "Cherub Rock" and "Tonight, Tonight" are seeking an additional guitarist and welcoming resumes.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

CTI's 15-year mission and beyond: Safeguarding Indonesia's handwoven legacy

Overshadowed by the more famous and recognized batik, the Indonesian traditional handwoven cloth tenun does not lack supporters at home who strive to get the traditional fabric used more in our daily life. Cita Tenun Indonesia commemorates its 15th anniversary celebrating tenun by providing more training for weavers and introducing the fabric to a wider audience.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

Unique Ecuador nativity scene aims for historical accuracy

Some 300 figurines currently on display in a monastery-turned-museum in Quito, Ecuador recount biblical stories surrounding the birth of Jesus, such as Mary and Joseph's flight to Egypt to protect their baby or the massacre of the innocents, the tale of King Herod ordering the killing of all male children under two.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

'Soul of our ancestors': US to return stolen Cambodian treasures

The return of the sculptures to their countries of origin would empty the Met's collection of art associated with Douglas Latchford, a dealer charged with smuggling looted artifacts from Southeast Asia, the museum said.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

UNESCO recognizes Ramadan meal tradition of iftar

Iftar, which follows the sunset call to prayer during Ramadan, is associated with gatherings "strengthening family and community ties and promoting charity, solidarity and social exchange," the UNESCO said.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

‘Repatriasi’: Reclaiming Indonesia’s heritage from the shadows of colonialism

The National Gallery of Indonesia is holding an exhibition until Sunday showcasing repatriated artifacts looted by the Dutch colonial power. The exhibition intends to show to the public how rich Indonesia is culturally, and that Indonesians could preserve such precious heirlooms.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

'Masa Depan Batik': Unveiling the industry’s challenges and reshaping its future

Batik has a long tradition in Indonesia and has been recognized by UNESCO as an item of intangible heritage in 2009 while at the same time there are concerns about its future. Dutch artisan and researcher Sabine Bolk, however, is determined to keep up the spirit and skills, ensuring batik will always have a future.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

‘Bicara Melalui Kain’: Redefining textile narratives in Indonesia

Researcher and artisan Lusiana Limono was intrigued to find an old baby blanket made up from a patchwork of cloth pieces by her great-grandmother. The discovery led her to deep-dive into the world of textiles.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Batik Durian: Weaving the essence of Lubuklinggau into global fashion

Durian and batik may not come naturally in the same breath but that was what one woman leader managed to do in Lubuklinggau city – promoting durian through batik artistry despite the absence of batik history in the city.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

What happens when art meets nature? Meet Semesta's Gallery

Standing on a lush, sloping hill in South Jakarta's Lebak Bulus, Semesta's Gallery has steadily clinched a reputation as one of the most distinctive art galleries in the city.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Pura Mangkunegaran presents royal heritage in Angsukayana batik exhibit

The Mangkunegaran duchy has launched an exhibition and fashion show to present its rich batik heritage that has developed over the centuries.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Konnect ASEAN: Bridging cultures through friendship and art

Artists from across Southeast Asian nations and South Korea made friends and discovered new skills through Konnect Asean residency programs.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

OMAH Library: Tangerang's comfy fountain of knowledge

Comfortably nestled within the Taman Villa Meruya housing complex just outside Jakarta, the library-slash-cafe is currently enjoying cult status as a serene haven for passionate architectophiles and urban bibliophiles.

1 year ago
Art & Culture

Guilty as charged?: New documentary reignites debate on Jessica Wongso's infamous case

A new Netflix documentary about the controversial “cyanide coffee case” sheds light on Indonesia’s current legal system but does not share any new information regarding the murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Fulfilling a promise: Teater Abnon revives Betawi’s ‘gambang kromong’ with ‘Janji Soekma’

Teater Abnon features Betawi traditional gambang kromong music in their upcoming production and celebrates its 14th anniversary. 

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

‘Sandyakala Smara’: Reviving the timeless elegance of Kudus batik

Denny Wirawan, in collaboration with the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, presented a fashion show in Kudus, Central Java, featuring the forgotten splendor of Kudus batik. 

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

Lies AR of trailblazing Dara Puspita passes away

Lies Adji Rachman, or Lies AR, cofounder and guitarist of Indonesia’s legendary all-female rock and roll group Dara Puspita, died at 77 on Sunday night in Mojokerto, East Java.

1 year ago
Art & Culture premium

A Bohemian rhapsody in Jakarta

Lovers of classical music in Jakarta got a hefty dose of a rhapsodic evening of music from Bohemia through the works of Leos Janacek, Bohuslav Martinu, Gustav Mahler and Antonin Dvorak.

2 years ago