The Thirteenth Edition of Art Jakarta

The weekend-long event, Art Jakarta returns for its thirteenth iteration. Held at JIEXPO Kemayoran for the first time, Art Jakarta opened on Friday (17/11) with a performance by TRUST Orchestra. During this thirteenth iteration held until this Sunday (19/11), Art Jakarta presented even more exhibitors than the year prior. With 68 exhibitors, Art Jakarta displayed 40 galleries from Indonesia and 28 galleries abroad including galleries from Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, and five Southeast Asian nations.

In this year’s edition, Art Jakarta offered a variety of programs. One of which was a collaborative project with involved partners. Aside from that, like in previous editions, Art Jakarta also presented the Gallery as the main segment of the event. There was also Spot as a special presentation platform in the form of an installation. This year, Art Jakarta displayed nine curated works at the public area over the weekend. The curated works include “Order of Things” by Jose Santos from the Philippines, which is a form of personal construction and reconstruction, and “Neither Body nor Soul” by Nipan Oranniwesna from Thailand, which highlights the concept of limits crisscrossing both sides of a border.

Furthermore, Art Jakarta also presented Play by UOB Indonesia which was specifically designed to provide a playing area for children, honing creativity, sharpness, and imagination through a variety of activities. This year, this program was commissioned to Farhan Siki, winner of UOB Painting of the Year 2022, to conceptualize the dynamic “Plant a Tree, Plant a Life” interactive room as a medium for children to familiarize themselves with the arts through playing and imagination. Furthermore, Art Jakarta also created a specific segment for artist collectives and non-profits to fundraise as part of their efforts under the Scene program. Lastly, Art Jakarta also presented AJ Talk as a vessel for experts, observers, artists, collectors, and curators to communicate and share their experiences and knowledge with the visitors.

Through consistency and the development of each edition, Art Jakarta continues to deliver on their commitment to support visual arts in the nation. Art Jakarta has become both a celebration and a catalyst for the development of the visual arts in particular but also the creative industry on the whole. Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Ristek Hilmar Farid, stated, “Art Jakarta 2023 is a realization of creativity that never ceases to innovate. This year, we can see, once again, an art event that blends tradition, modernity, and technology in Jakarta.”