Art Jakarta 2024 attracted over 38,000 visitors as it championed exceptional art from Southeast Asia through special programs, exhibitions, and spaces.
Art Jakarta 2024 was showcased at JIExpo Kemayoran, welcoming art enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals from all around Asia. The fair brought together 73 galleries from Indonesia and Southeast Asia, showing the best of their collections. This year’s line up included 39 Indonesian galleries and 34 foreign galleries from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia.
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Art Jakarta is committed to its vision of being the only Southeast Asian-focused art fair in Asia. Art Jakarta, part of MRA Media, started as Bazaar Art Jakarta in 2009 and evolved throughout the times in response to the development of the Indonesian art scene.
This year Art Jakarta added another hall to create a more spacious and comfortable viewing experience. The expansion from last year’s two halls to three allowed better flow and provided a larger space for the public program. Captivating talks by curators, artists, and authors, the film screening of “The Mother of Indonesian Artists” by Erwin Darmali, and a live music performance by rapper Matter Mos enhanced the atmosphere of the event. During the three days, Art Jakarta 2024 drew over 38,000 visitors, marking a seven percent increase from the previous edition which proves the growing enthusiasm for contemporary art.
The fair’s opening ceremony was attended by the Director of Cultural Human Resources and Institution Development Restu Gunawan of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, along with Director of Creative Economy Marketing Erwita Dianti of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Maulana Indraguna Sutowo as CEO of MRA Group, and Art Jakarta’s Lead Partners. The first day also featured rapper Matter Mos’s live performance and the premiere of Erwin Damali’s “The Mother of Indonesian Artists.” The VIP Preview started at one in the afternoon, while the vernissage was open to the general public from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Director General of Culture Hilmar Farid of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, despite being unable to attend, remarked, “Art Jakarta 2024 is not just an art exhibition, it serves as a vital meeting point between the local art ecosystem and the global art market. As the largest art exhibition in Jakarta, the Fair acts as a bridge connecting artists, galleries, collectors, and professionals from around the world, opening opportunities for Indonesian works to compete and thrive on the international stage. In the context of cultural advancement, this event demonstrates that art is a significant driving force, not only in the aesthetic realm but also in influencing broader cultural policies and practices. Art Jakarta provides a strategic platform that encourages us to continue promoting national culture through artistic practices and collaborations of cross-local networks.” Deputy for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Ni Made Ayu Marthini, who was also unable to attend, remarked, “I appreciate Art Jakarta 2024, one of the best international events for the visual art subsector. Not only does it serve as a space for artists to express themselves, it also becomes an effective platform for promoting the creative economy, given the many international galleries and buyers in attendance. Additionally, Art Jakarta contributes to the development of our tourism ecosystem by attracting visitors from various regions, both domestic and international, establishing Jakarta as a cultural and artistic destination. Greetings from Wonderful Indonesia!”
Maulana Indraguna Sutowo, CEO of MRA Group, expressed his appreciation for the Fair’s progression, “Art Jakarta enters its 14th year with confidence. Starting as Bazaar Art Jakarta in 2009, the event has continuously evolved alongside the development of Indonesian visual art. We remain committed to our vision of supporting the visual art ecosystem in Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region.”
Yang Vi Sun, Indonesia Country Head and Group Head South East Asia at Julius Baer, remarked, “Julius Baer has a long tradition of supporting the arts. Believing that art encourages an open mindset and sparks dialogue, Julius Baer remains steadfastly committed to supporting artistic endeavours globally. This year, renowned Indonesian artist Sunaryo will showcase a special exhibition of his artworks, including several new pieces, at the Julius Baer VIP Lounge. With a versatile approach to contemporary art and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, Sunaryo’s celebrated artworks deeply resonate with Indonesian culture.”
Maya Rizano, Head of Strategic Communications and Brand at UOB Indonesia, said, “UOB, known for its longstanding support of art in Asia, plays a key role at Art Jakarta 2024. This year, UOB continues to champion Southeast Asian art through its UOB Art Space, which features works by the UOB Art Alumni Network with artists from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition to promoting Southeast Asian art, UOB champions education and children’s creativity with its interactive space, ‘Play by UOB,’ encouraging young minds to explore art through a sustainability lens. These initiatives reflect UOB’s commitment to enriching society through art, education, and its broader CSR programmes.”
From Bibit and Stockbit, Olivia Budiono, Product Marketing Lead, remarked “At Bibit and Stockbit, investing goes beyond the pursuit of an end goal—it’s about the discipline of showing up consistently, time after time. Every thoughtful decision builds the foundation for enduring wealth, grounded in patience and persistence. We believe everyone has the ability to grow their wealth endlessly, with the right mindset and persistent effort. Our collaboration with Art Jakarta, featuring the installation Knit by Knit by Cinanti A. Johansjah x Rajut Kejut, highlights these timeless values—consistency, persistency, and faith in the future—as fundamental principles in both life and investing.”
Anang Samsudin, Head of PR & Partnership at Treasury remarked, “Since its inception, Treasury has aimed to become a brand and platform for digital physical gold investment that creates a broad positive impact, not only in the financial sector but also beyond. We strive to realise this vision by inviting the public to actively contribute to the Gold for Good programme, which this year has been translated into the artwork ‘Post Tenebras Lux.’ Through this artwork, we seek to illustrate the significant impact of small and light actions done collectively, which can help create a bright future in all aspects of life.”
Supported by four Lead Partners — Julius Baer, UOB Indonesia, Bibit, and Treasury — Art Jakarta 2024 offered an array of exciting presentations. Julius Baer featured an exclusive exhibition of renowned Indonesian artist Sunaryo at their VIP Lounge, showcasing new artworks that captivated the audience with their reflection of Indonesian culture. UOB Indonesia curated the UOB Art Space, which exhibited new works of the UOB Painting of the Year winners from Southeast Asia. Bibit presented an inspiring collaboration between Cinanti Atria Johansjah and the knitting collective Rajut Kejut titled “Knit by Knit,” blending art and craft to explore financial themes through the colourful artwork. Treasury invited visitors to create a broader positive impact through the “Gold for Good” program, so that the benefits of gold investment are not only felt by investors but also have an impact on the environment through the “Green Gold” program and on others through the Golden Generation programme. Other notable presentations include Eugene Kangawa’s White Painting series in the AJX section, which drew around 400 participants who kissed a blank white canvas in response to a call for human solidarity. The Spot section showcased four large sized installations by renowned Indonesian artists Iwan Yusuf, Syaiful Garibaldi, Tisna Sanjaya, and Timoteus Anggawan Kusno, reflecting on important social-political and ecological issues that resonated with visitors.
Fair Director Tom Tandio stated: “We are thrilled with the success of Art Jakarta 2024. The growth in visitorship and vibrant sales throughout the event reflect the strength of the art market in Indonesia. The support from our Partners has been tremendously invaluable, and we are proud to see such a dynamic range of works from emerging talents to established artists.”
Art Jakarta has continued to solidify its reputation as a major art event in the region with their continued success yearly. Planning is already underway for next year’s edition, which promises more exciting experiences.
Photos by Pepper Teehankee.
