From Devotion to Action: Opening Dialogue at ARTJOG 2025
After the success of Road to ARTJOG 2025, ARTJOG 2025 – Motif: Amalan has opened its doors to the public at Jogja National Museum in Yogyakarta. The exhibition will run until August 31 2025, in parcel of the exploration of “Motif” as a running theme that threads its (current and) previous iterations. The opening day began with a special exhibition preview for invited guests and press members, followed by a formal ceremony attended by artists, art enthusiasts, cultural figures, art communities, government officials, and supporters across various sectors.
Acapella Mataraman commemorated the opening night with a performance, which reflected ARTJOG’s overarching focus on art and reflection in its programming. ARTJOG’s Director Heri Pemad delivered the opening remarks, followed by guest curator Hendro Wiyanto. Wiyanto emphasized the centrality of Motif in his speech, stating that while devotion may not always be explicit nor visible upon creation, artists are consistently driven by their intent towards collective good and community.
“When we think of Amalan (translated to practice), we are graced with a complete knowledge of our respective capacities in creation. Art is not a mere conceptualisation of emptiness that deems its engagement as devoid of meaning, but rather an exercise of faith in aesthetics to lay ground for any action. Although the practices of art are not alike, its imagination is enough to conjure action. We still believe that art always exists: to inspire and even to critique all that is not in accordance with the common ideals of Good and Justice,” he explained.
Similarly, filmmaker Garin Nugroho also underscored the vital role of the arts in his oration: signifying the role of imagination in shaping humanity. “Imagination (that births creation) is amongst one of the many extraordinary things, an extraordinary wealth of human life. When people enter a museum or gallery, the feelings derived from art reminds them of their humanity. And the altered states of space and time brings forth an understanding, ultimately leading to an expansion (of the individual, collective). Therefore, a nation that does not support museums or art galleries, will give birth to leaders who do not understand time nor space and by extension, their people. And leaders who do not understand that concept (and are deprived of humanity) lead to destruction.”
The ceremony also saw the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Young Artist Award (YAA). The judging panel, which consists of artist Eko Nugroho and the ARTJOG curatorial team, selected three out of sixteen emerging artists under the age of 35. Their selection criteria was based on the alignment of artwork with the exhibition’s theme, aesthetic exploration, and originality in both its concept and their final presentation.
Finally, the evening concluded with a keynote speech by artist and founder of Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Sunaryo. In his address, he emphasized that an art festival is not merely a celebration of aesthetics, but a powerful catalyst for revitalizing local economies and the tourism sector. Sunaryo also highlighted the importance of community engagement with guaranteed government support, and remarks that art should no longer be seen as exclusive or elitist, but as something that addresses and reaches the needs of wider society.
As a gesture of appreciation, ARTJOG presented Sunaryo with the Pohon Hayat (Tree of Life) memento for his longstanding contributions to the development of contemporary Indonesian art. The presentation marked the official opening of ARTJOG 2025. The celebration continued into the evening with a live performance by *Batavia Collective* on the ARTJOG Stage.
Throughout its duration, ARTJOG 2025 – Motif: Amalan will feature signature programs such as the Exhibition Tour, Meet the Artist, performa•ARTJOG, ARTJOG Kids, Book Launches and Discussions, Merchandise Project, Artcare Indonesia, Jogja Art Weeks, and Love ARTJOG. This year also introduces several new initiatives, including Special Project, Spotlight, and The Others Lab.
Tickets are available online and on-site, priced at IDR 80,000 for adults and IDR 50,000 for children.
