5 Art Galleries you should know about in Jakarta
In a city as diverse and dynamic as Jakarta, it’s no wonder the art scene is alive and flourishing. If you are an art fan visiting or living in Jakarta, you are in for an exciting ride! The five galleries we profile today facilitate all forms of art; whether it's paintings, installations or live performances, and all support emerging artists and encourage new generations to appreciate art.
Head to any of the art galleries we profile today and explore the creative riches of Indonesian and international art for yourself. We know you won't be disappointed!
Museum MACAN (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara)
YAYOI KUSAMA: Life is the heart of a rainbow. 'My eternal soul' series. At Museum Macan until 9 September, 2018
The museum’s long full name includes Nusantara, the name for the Indonesian archipelago in Javanese, while its abbreviation, MACAN, is the Javanese word for tiger. Opening in 2017, Museum Macan is Indonesia’s first International modern art museum. Its growing collection focuses on modern and contemporary art from Indonesia and around the world. The Museum offers a wide variety of public programs and a dynamic exhibition and education program; and has just recently been included in a list of the 'World's 100 Greatest Places' released by Time Magazine.
Where: AKR Tower Level MM
Jalan Panjang No. 5 Kebon Jeruk
Jakarta Barat
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 8pm. Queues for installations inside the exhibition close at 7pm. Closed: Monday
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Museum Macan?
Yes, you can purchase tickets at the Museum's registration counter or online. For group bookings and discounts, email the Museum at info@museummacan.org
Ticket prices:
Adults — IDR 100.000
Children — IDR 80.000
Students and Senior Citizens — IDR 90.000
Gallery space and facilities: Museum Macan is located in the AKR Tower and sprawls over 43,000 sq. ft. and over two levels. As well as an expansive Exhibition area; the Museum also includes a Children's Art Space, Sculpture Garden, Museum Shop and Cafe by 1/15 Coffee. Its facilities include Accessible Toilets, a Nursing Room, Cloakroom and all areas are wheelchair-friendly.
How to follow Museum Macan:
Instagram: Museum Macan
Facebook facebook.com/museummacan
Twitter @museummacan
Web and Ticket Sales : Museum Macan
Subscribe to the Museum Macan newsletter for upcoming exhibitions and public programs:
Email : info@museummacan.org
FX Harsono’s live performance 'Writing in the Rain' was staged at MACAN First Sight in 2017. A re-enactment of an older work, it saw him repeatedly writing his Chinese name on a glass wall while the ink characters were washed away by water – a reference to how Chinese-Indonesians were pressured into abandoning their Chinese names under the Suharto regime.
Xu Zhen's 'In the Blink of an Eye' Pop-up performance-art at “MACAN First Sight,” in 2017
YAYOI KUSAMA: Life is the heart of a rainbow. 'My eternal soul' series. At Museum Macan until 9 September, 2018
YAYOI KUSAMA: Life is the heart of a rainbow. 'Narcissus Garden.' (1966/2018) At Museum Macan until 9 September, 2018
Latest Museum Macan news: On view from 17 November, 2018 until March 2019, Museum Macan will be unveiling three solo presentations by conceptual artists Arahmaiani, Lee Mingwei and On Kawara.
Arahmaiani - The Past Has Not Passed (Masa Lalu Belumlah Berlalu) Featuring works from the last thirty years of her career
Lee Mingwei - Seven Stories, made up of seven major performances and participatory installations
The reading of 'One Million Years' by On Kawara, marking the artist's first presentation in Indonesia
Arahmaiani, 'Handle Without Care' (2017) Arahmaiani's 'The Past Has Not Passed' Featuring works from the last thirty years of her career will be presented at Museum Macan from 17 November 2018.
Galeri Nasional
Established in May 1999, the National Gallery of Indonesia houses over 1770 works by both Indonesian and foreign artists. Most notable Indonesian artists include Raden Saleh, Affandi and Basuki Abdullah.
The role of the Galeri Nasional is three-fold: To preserve artworks; to expand public awareness of Art and to develop the Visual Arts in Indonesia.
The main building of the Galeri Nasional was constructed in 1817 in Dutch Indies Colonial style. Prior to becoming an art gallery, the building had many former lives including housing a Dutch Technical school, as well as a female dormitory and then post Independence, the building was converted into a school for Primary and Secondary students.
In the mid/late 1960's the main building was used as an army headquarters. Then in 1981, it was returned to the Department of Education and Culture and used as an exhibition building until 1999, when it would become the central structure for the current day Indonesian National Gallery.
Where: Jl. Medan Merdeka Tim. No.14
Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus
Ibukota Jakarta
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 10am - 7pm
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Galeri Nasional? This depends on what exhibition you are going to see. If you are visiting the permanent collection, then admission is free. If you are checking out a temporary exhibition, you may need to pay a nominal entrance fee.
Gallery space and facilities: Galeri Nasional is located close to many other significant Jakarta landmarks including the National Monument MONAS, Grand Mosque Istiqlal and Jakarta's Katedral Katolik, St. Mary of the Assumption. Located on site is a simple coffee shop as well as a gift shop which stocks locally made basketware, jewellery, ceramics and other art pieces, often at excellent prices. Unfortunately on the day of my recent visit, the gift shop was almost empty - so stock supply isn't always reliable.
How to follow Galeri Nasional:
Instagram: Galeri Nasional
Web: Galeri Nasional
'Planting Rice' by Fernando Amorsolo, 1951 (oil on canvas)
'Dua gadis memakai caping' by Joel Ngantung, 1957 (oil on canvas)
'Wanita Naga' by Shiavax Chavda (oil paint on canvas)
Dia.lo.gue Artspace
Dia.lo.gue was founded by Engel Tenzel and is located in a beautiful modern building, set back from the road in Kemang, South Jakarta. Dia.lo.gue is one of the foremost contemporary art galleries in Jakarta, and regularly welcomes both high-profile and emerging local artists.
Where: Jl. Kemang Selatan. No.99A, Jakarta Selatan
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 6pm, Friday - Sunday, 9am - 9pm
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Dia.lo.gue? No, it's free to enter all the spaces in Dia.lo.gue. All exhibitions are free to the public.
Gallery space and facilities: As well as hosting a modern, open gallery space, Dia.lo.gue also contains a small, design-centric and locally-made shop, a large cafe space with super friendly staff, and a glass walled room, that can be rented for meetings and workshops. The outdoor space is used to host artist talks, exhibition openings and from time to time, locally made markets.
How to follow Dia.lo.gue:
Instagram: Dia.lo.gue Artspace
Web: Dia.lo.gue Artspace
The Dia.lo.gue design-centric and locally-made shop at the front of the building
'Unit Produksi' (2017)
Dia.lo.gue open cafe space
A highlight of the year for Dia.lo.gue was the first exhibition of the famous Indonesian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Entitled 'Namaku Pram', the exhibition entailed the history and archives of Pramoedya Ananta Toer (Pram) who was jailed during the Dutch, Japan occupation in Indonesia (Image by Dia.lo.gue)
Upcoming Exhibitions:
'Warna Warna'
August 29 - Sept 9, 2018
Opening hours: Monday -Thursday 9.30am - 6pm and Friday - Sunday 9.00am - 9pm
The exhibition was inpired by Warna-warna (meaning colours) the new release from singer Andiensyah. Dia.lo.gue worked with ATC Widyatama Art Therapy Centre in Bandung, and feature 14 artists and 62 paintings.
'Warna Warna' exhibition at Dia.lo.gue. August 29 - September 9, 2018 (Image by Dia.lo.gue)
Komunitas Salihara
Komunitas Salihara is the first private and independent multidisciplinary Art Centre in Indonesia. Established in 2008, Komunitas Salihara consists of three main components: a theatre, a gallery and an office.
Salihara's vision of "maintaining freedom of thought and expression through respecting differences and diversity" is reflected in their broad program which offers experiences in numerous areas including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, film, as well as workshops and festivals.
According to Salihara's website, "Komunitas Salihara gives priority to new arts - adopting a creative attitude towards the diverse artistic heritage of Indonesia and the world".
Where: Komunitas Salihara
Jl. Salihara 16, Pasar Minggu
Jakarta Selatan
Opening Hours:
See Website for exhibition times (below)
Gerai Salihara Book and Artshop: Tuesday - Sunday, 12 noon - 8pm
Kopi Kecil Coffee Shop Salihara: Every day 7am - 10pm
Bar Jamu Salihara: Every day 11am - 8pm
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Salihara? Entry to the Salihara gallery is normally free of charge, however for some events including workshops, a cost may be incurred.
How to follow Salihara:
Instagram: Komunitas Salihara
Web: Komunitas Salihara
Salihara Bookshop and Artshop Instagram: Gerai Salihara
Kopi Kecil Instagram: Kopi Kecil
Bar Jamu Salihara: Bar Jamu Salihara
The Salihara gardens contain extensive greenery and modern wall art and installations
Kopi Kecil Cafe Salihara
Upstairs from Kopi Kecil you will find Jamu Bar Salihara and cafe, an affiliation with Suwe Ora Jama
Upcoming exhibitions: We are most excited about the forthcoming exhibition of Jakarta based Argentinian visual artist Antonella Pedetti.
Born in Montevideo, Antonella studied fine arts and architecture in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her works typically reflect a lifelong relentless search to establish her own cultural background and heritage as both a painter and human being.
Antonella's forthcoming solo exhibition at Salihara, titled 'Rootless - A dream of water and distances', explores the notion of someone who has left her country, culture, traditions, family and all that represents the essence of a person.
'Rootless' officially opens on Saturday October 6th 2018 with the exhibition on show from Sunday 7th - Tuesday 16th October 2018. Keep your eye out for our future blog post where we meet Antonella and provide you with further details of her exhibition, 'Rootless'.
'Dreams of a Return' by Antonella Pedetti, 2018 (Acrylic and resin figure on canvas) Image by Antonella Pedetti
'Gefangen 12 Capítulos' by Antonella Pedetti, 2018 Image by Antonella Pedetti
Edwin's Gallery
Edwin's Gallery was established in 1984 by Pak Edwin Rahardjo. This gallery covers a wide array of media including paintings, prints, sculptures, objects, new media as well as tapestries.
With a keen focus on promoting young, contemporary and emerging artists, the aim of Edwin's Gallery is to give continual contribution to the Indonesian Art Scene.
Where: Jl. Kemang Raya No. 21
Kemang, Jakarta
Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm. Closed Sunday
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter Edwin's Gallery? General admission is free, however for specific exhibitions and events, purchase of tickets is required.
Edwin's Gallery occasionally hosts the famous Yogyakarta-based puppet company Papermoon Puppet Theatre. When this company is in Jakarta, tickets sell out fast! By following Edwin's Gallery on Instagram, you'll be one of the first to know about such events.
How to follow Edwin's Gallery:
Instagram: Edwin's Gallery Jakarta
Web: Edwin's Gallery
E-mail : edwin's_gallery@yahool.com
Multimedia by Ruth Marbun, 2018
'Untitled Face #2' by Iwan Effendi, 2018 (pencil, soft pastel on paper)
'Capital Cities' by Miranti Minggar, 2018 (spray paint and pencil on wood)
Have you visited all or some of the galleries in our list? What was your experience?
Do you have any other gallery recommendations for us? We would love to hear from you.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Words: Liz McClean and Jo Stevens Photography: a journey bespoke, Antonella Pedetti and Dialogue Artspace
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