Art Jakarta Expands Platform with First Edition of Art Jakarta Papers
Art Jakarta will introduce a new fair format with the inaugural edition of Art Jakarta Papers, scheduled to take place from 5–8 February 2026 at City Hall, Pondok Indah Mall 3, Jakarta. The fair will bring together 28 galleries from Indonesia and across Asia, presenting artworks that focus on paper as a primary medium.
Art Jakarta Papers is conceived to provide focused attention and sustainable support for paper-based contemporary art. In Indonesia, practices involving paper—such as drawing, printmaking, illustration, photography, artists’ books, and research-based or archival works—have often been positioned as secondary, despite their central role in artistic thinking and production. Through this initiative, Art Jakarta aims to expand the ecosystem by recognising paper-based works as historically, conceptually, and economically significant, with distinct value in their own right.
Alongside gallery presentations, the fair will feature solo presentations by Indonesian artists and a series of curated talks examining the role of paper in contemporary practice. According to Artistic Director Enin Supriyanto, the fair is intended to deepen public and collector understanding of the breadth and achievements of paper-based art in Indonesia and the wider region.
The first edition of Art Jakarta Papers is supported by its Lead Partners, BCA and Sucor Asset Management, each contributing Special Presentations.
BCA, through myBCA Space, will present a large-scale paper installation by Rudy Atjeh. Constructed from hand-cut paper, the work uses the metaphor of a tree to reflect the journey of human life, with roots, trunk, and branches symbolising fundamental principles, resilience, and evolving life stages. A central cubic structure represents the importance of life and financial management. Visitors are invited to participate through an origami activity, allowing the installation to grow over the course of the exhibition.
Sucor Asset Management will present Sucor AM Corner, an interactive installation developed with artist Naufal Abshar. The project uses chess as a metaphor for investment strategy and decision-making, featuring six papier-mâché sculptures representing the chess pieces. The presentation is extended through “Chess Play,” a live chess-playing experience that reflects different investment risk profiles, offering visitors direct interaction with Sucor Asset Management representatives.
Additional support comes from EDISII, one of the fair’s Main Partners. For Art Jakarta Papers, EDISII will present a curated selection of limited-edition fine art prints by Indonesian contemporary artists, produced through close collaboration between the artists and the platform.
Art Jakarta Papers will also include the fair’s SPOT section, a curated programme of solo, large-scale installations presented by participating galleries. For this edition, SPOT will feature works by Iwan Effendi, presented by ara contemporary, and the photography collective Ruang MES 56, presented by kohesi Initiatives.
Photo above: Work by Iwan Effendi, presented by ara contemporary.
