Art Jakarta's 2024 edition (October 3-5) took place just weeks after nationwide anticorruption protests swept Indonesia and spread to other countries. The fair's director Tom Tandio noted that the demonstrations left a "scar" on the local art community, which had been vocal in organizing donations, attending protests, and sharing digital posters on social media. Despite low expectations due to economic uncertainty, the fair proceeded with new galleries like Ara Contemporary, which sold about 70% of its stand on opening day, featuring politically charged works such as Agung Harahap's manipulated photographs and Irfan Hendrian's paper installations referencing the 1998 anti-Chinese riots. The fair also overlapped with ruangrupa's 25th anniversary exhibition, which included interactive projects and talks promoting sociopolitical engagement.
This matters because it shows how Indonesia's art scene is regrouping and using art as a platform for political expression and community healing after a period of upheaval. The emergence of new galleries like Ara Contemporary and the continued relevance of collectives like ruangrupa demonstrate a growing willingness to address sensitive historical and political topics, such as the 1998 riots and the recent protests. The fair's success, with strong sales to international collectors from Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong, also underscores the resilience and growing significance of Indonesia's contemporary art market within the global art world.