Jakarta's Art Scene Transforms with Museum MACAN Opening and 17th Jakarta Biennale
In November 2017, Jakarta was the venue for two major art initiatives. The Museum MACAN, Indonesia's inaugural contemporary art museum specifically designed for this purpose, was established in West Jakarta by billionaire Haryanto Adikoesoemo. Its first exhibition, titled 'Art Turns. World Turns,' displayed 90 pieces from renowned artists such as Raden Saleh, Affandi, Mark Rothko, and Ai Weiwei. Director Aaron Seeto seeks to enhance audience engagement. Simultaneously, the 17th Jakarta Biennale, led by artistic director Melati Suryodarmo, presented over 50 artists, including Luc Tuymans, at Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem. Featured works included I Made Djirna's 'Unsung Heroes' and Arin Rungjang's 'Bengawan Solo,' underscoring Jakarta's inadequate public art resources amid economic disparities and the crucial role of private philanthropy.
Key facts
- Museum MACAN opened in November 2017 as Indonesia's first purpose-built contemporary art museum
- The museum occupies 2,000 square meters in West Jakarta with conservation facilities enabling international loans
- Founder Haryanto Adikoesoemo ranked 20th wealthiest Indonesian in 2016 with $1.7 billion net worth
- Inaugural exhibition 'Art Turns. World Turns' curated by Charles Esche and Agung Hujatnika featured 90 works
- 17th Jakarta Biennale had $450,000 budget and theme 'jiwa' under artistic director Melati Suryodarmo
- Biennale featured over 50 artists including Luc Tuymans and Hito Steyerl across four venues
- Indonesia ranks sixth from bottom globally in economic equality per 2017 Oxfam Indonesia/INFID report
- Four richest Indonesians' wealth equals that of 100 million poorest citizens
Entities
Artists
- Raden Saleh
- S. Sudjojono
- Dullah
- Hendra Gunawan
- Affandi
- Mark Rothko
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Gerhard Richter
- Andy Warhol
- Damien Hirst
- Yoshitomo Nara
- Lee Ufan
- Ai Weiwei
- Liu Ye
- Arahmaiani Feisal
- FX Harsono
- Luc Tuymans
- Hito Steyerl
- I Made Djirna
- Chiharu Shiota
- Dolorosa Sinaga
- Hendrawan Riyanto
- I Wayan Sadra
- Semsar Siahaan
- Arin Rungjang
- Anneke Gronlöh
- Wong Kar-wai
- Ade Darmawan
- Melati Suryodarmo
- Charles Esche
- Agung Hujatnika
- Aaron Seeto
- Haryanto Adikoesoemo
- Rudy Akili
- Ir. Ciputra
Institutions
- Museum MACAN
- AKR Group
- PT AKR Corporindo Tbk
- AKR Land Development
- Jakarta Biennale
- National Gallery of Indonesia
- Akili Museum of Art
- Smailing Tour
- Ciputra Museum
- Van Abbemuseum
- Queensland Art Gallery
- Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten
- Ruangrupa
- Oxfam Indonesia
- International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
- ArtReview Asia
- Jakarta Globe
- Jakarta History Museum
- Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem
Locations
- Jakarta
- Indonesia
- Bandung
- Yogyakarta
- West Jakarta
- South Jakarta
- North Jakarta
- Penjaringan
- Eindhoven
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Singapore
- Bali
- Solo
- Fatahillah Square
- Batavia