Art Journey in Indonesia — 5 Places to Experience Jakarta’s Rich Art

Art Journey in Indonesia — 5 Places to Experience Jakarta’s Rich Art

Made up of more than 17,000 islands and over 300 ethnic groups, Indonesia is a country of many religions and a complex history and social structure. Against this backdrop, its art has grown from the fusion of tradition and modernity and from the distinct identities of each region and people, and it boasts an energy more intense than that of almost any other nation. In Jakarta, where Indonesia’s rich artistic heritage is concentrated, let’s visit five leading art museums and galleries and discover the country’s singular, original artistry.

Words Pitch by Pitch
In collaboration with ASEAN-Korea Centre

National Gallery of Indonesia
Galeri Nasional Indonesia

This gallery was established to preserve and promote the legacy of Indonesian visual art. Its building, which blends traditional Indonesian and Dutch architectural styles, dates to 1817 and is historically significant in its own right. The exterior has been kept as it was, while the interior has been renovated to suit art exhibitions. The gallery holds about 1,700 works spanning a wide range of media, including 19th-century painting, sculpture, graphic art, photography, video, and installation. Among them are works by leading Indonesian painters such as Raden Saleh, Affandi, and Basuki Abdullah, as well as pieces by world-renowned abstract artists of the early 20th century, including Vasily Kandinsky, Victor Vasarely, and Hans Hartung. Beyond its permanent exhibitions, the gallery regularly stages engaging special shows, from collaborations with famous artists to thematic exhibitions on experimental subjects, that reflect the latest currents in contemporary art. It also runs art education programs such as workshops and seminars.

Opened: 2014

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 12:30–19:30

Admission: Free

Address: Jl. Medan Merdeka Tim. No.14, RT.6/ RW.1, Gambir, Kecamatan Gambir, Kota Jakarta Pusat

Instagram:    galerinasional

National Museum of Fine Arts and Crafts
Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics

This museum displays traditional Indonesian handicrafts, ceramics and other craft works, and paintings. It occupies an elegant neoclassical building constructed in 1870 as a Dutch court of justice. After Indonesian independence it served as the office of Jakarta’s mayor, before opening as the national museum of fine arts and crafts in 1976 under President Suharto. Today it presents craft works of significance to Indonesian art history, arranged by period from the 19th century to the present. Visitors can also see ceramics collected across Indonesia, along with Chinese porcelain from the 14th-century Ming and Qing dynasties and collections of ceramics brought from around the world. The museum also exhibits paintings by celebrated Indonesian artists such as the Romantic painter Raden Saleh and the Expressionist Affandi, making for a program that spans both craft and painting. A ceramics studio inside the museum offers hands-on classes for the general public.

Opened: May 1999

Hours: Daily, 9:00–19:00

Admission: Free

Address: Jl. Pos Kota No.2 9, RT.9/RW.7, Pinangsia, Kec. Taman Sari, Kota Jakarta Barat

Instagram:    museum_keramikjkt

Museum MACAN
Museum MACAN

Indonesia’s first international modern and contemporary art museum was founded by Haryanto Adikoesoemo, one of the country’s leading art collectors and entrepreneurs. A year after opening inside the AKR Tower in West Jakarta, it drew the spotlight in 2018 when it was named one of ‘the World’s 100 Greatest Places’ by Time. As art director Aeron Seeto has said, “Art will have an impact beyond the museum, on the entire city,” and MACAN aims to lay the groundwork for the growth of Indonesian contemporary art. Its collection of about 800 works also rivals those of international museums, with pieces by world-famous masters from Andy Warhol to Yayoi Kusama and Xu Bing, alongside works by leading Indonesian artists such as Raden Saleh. The museum maintains a broad range of activities, including public programs open to everyone, a variety of educational programs, cultural exchange projects, and support for artists, and it has a separate exhibition space for young children.

Opened: August 1976

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00–15:00

Admission: 50,000 rupiah

Address: AKR Tower Level M Jalan Panjang No. 5 Kebon Jeruk Jakarta Barat

Website:    www.museummacan.org

Ciputra Artpreneur
Ciputra Artpreneur

This cultural complex spans 14,000 square meters and houses a museum, a gallery, and a performance hall. As its name suggests, ‘Artpreneur’ is a blend of ‘art’ and ‘entrepreneur,’ and it offers an Indonesian arts and culture experience from an active, creative perspective. The museum presents a vast collection by Hendra Gunawan, one of Indonesia’s great modern masters, while Indonesia’s first international-scale performance hall stages works in a range of genres, including Broadway musicals, ballet, classical music, and opera. It is also striking to encounter Gunawan’s works throughout the hall’s lobby and corridors. The gallery is designed as a multipurpose space and serves as a lively hub for cultural exchange, hosting a variety of events. The complex is located on the third floor of Ciputra World 1, a shopping mall in the central district known as Jakarta’s Golden Triangle.

Opened: November 2017

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00

Admission: 70,000 rupiah

Address: Ciputra World, Retail Podium, Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No.1 Kav. 3-5, RT.18/RW.4, Kuningan, Karet Kuningan, Kota Jakarta Selatan

Website:    www.ciputraartpreneur.com

Art:1 New Museum
Art: 1 New Museum

It began in 1983 as a gallery called Mon Décor. As its collection grew, it reopened in 2011 as Art:1 New Museum. The museum has six main exhibition halls: three are permanent galleries for its collection, and the other three are used for special exhibitions. Thanks to its roots as a gallery that grew into a museum, visitors can take in both the past and the present of Indonesian art at once. Alongside exhibitions of leading local artists, it steadily works to discover and spotlight emerging talent. Hands-on programs such as artist talks and art workshops are plentiful, and the museum even runs an art conservation studio, a rarity in Indonesia. With a library, a gift shop, and a café on site, it is also a pleasant place to linger after viewing the exhibitions.

Year Opened: 2011

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00

Admission: IDR 100,000

Address: Jln. Rajawali Selatan Raya No.3, Gn. Sahara Utara, Jakarta Pusat

Website:    www.art1museum.com