Art Jakarta Papers: Inaugural Edition
A dedicated fair exploring the artistic and market potential of contemporary paper-based art.
Words Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of Art Jakarta
January 26, 2026
Art Jakarta is pleased to announce the inaugural edition of Art Jakarta Papers, taking place from 5–8 February 2026 at City Hall, Pondok Indah Mall 3. The Fair will bring together 28 galleries from Indonesia and across Asia, featuring diverse presentations focused on the medium of paper. Alongside the gallery presentations, Art Jakarta Papers will showcase solo presentations by Indonesian artists and specially curated talks that further explore the role of paper in artistic practice.
Art Jakarta Papers arose from a desire to provide focused attention and sustainable support for paper-based contemporary art. In the local context, artworks that employ paper—including drawings, prints, illustrations, photography, artists’ books, and experimental practices rooted in archives and research—are often positioned as secondary mediums, despite serving as a crucial foundation for artistic processes, the exploration of ideas, and the production of visual knowledge.
Globally, artistic practices that prioritize paper have demonstrated significant growth through their presence at numerous art fairs, biennales, and institutional exhibitions that celebrate the intellectual value, materiality, and accessibility of this medium, whilst also cultivating a more mature market among collectors and institutions.
As one of the leading art fairs in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Art Jakarta recognizes the importance of responding to these developments by presenting Art Jakarta Papers—not to set it apart, but to expand the ecosystem and further emphasize the Fair’s commitment to fostering depth of discourse, diversity of practice, and the sustainability of the art industry. Through Art Jakarta Papers, paper-based artworks are positioned not only as historically, conceptually, and economically relevant, but also as works with their own distinct and inherent merits.
“We hope that this edition will strengthen, deepen, and expand the appreciation and knowledge of art lovers, collectors, and the general public in Indonesia and the region regarding the various forms and achievements of contemporary paper-based art,” Artistic Director Enin Supriyanto remarks.
The first edition of Art Jakarta Papers is strengthened by the support of its Lead Partners: BCA and Sucor Asset Management, each bringing significant artistic collaborations through Special Presentations. The presence of these two major players from the financial industry solidifies Art Jakarta's position as an important part of the local and regional art ecosystem.
myBCA presents myBCA Space, enhanced with a monolithic art installation by Rudy Atjeh. The installation is made of hand-cut paper, depicting the journey of human life through the metaphor of a tree. The roots symbolize fundamental principles, the trunk represents inner resilience, and the branches signify phases of life that evolve over time. At the center of the tree stands a cubic structure, symbolizing the importance of life and financial management. Visitors are invited to interact with the tree installation through an origami activity, allowing the work to expand and grow throughout the exhibition period. Rudy Atjeh has been working with intricate paper cut-outs for more than a decade. Since then, the medium has become central to his practice, celebrated for its precision, fragility, and meditative process. Atjeh’s recent works explore sculptural paper practices that engage with notions of cultural memory, symbolism, and interpretation.
Sucor Asset Management presents Sucor AM Corner, an interactive installation created in collaboration with artist Naufal Abshar, which introduces the concept of chess as a metaphor for investment—exploring strategy, roles, and decision-making. Six papier-mâché sculptures representing the six chess pieces are arranged within the space, forming a cohesive narrative that illustrates how each role complements the others. Each piece is portrayed as a distinct character with a specific function: some move more freely, others maintain balance, while some determine the direction of the game. This metaphor resonates strongly with Sucor AM’s position as a Grandmaster in the world of mutual fund investment, where every investment decision is made through careful analysis and well-directed strategies aligned with market conditions and investors’ financial objectives.
Expanding beyond the art installation, Sucor AM also presents “Chess Play,” a live chess-playing experience featuring three levels of difficulty. These levels represent different investment risk profiles, reflecting the idea that each individual has distinct goals, comfort levels, and approaches to decision-making. In these sessions, visitors will play directly against Sucorians, offering an engaging and enjoyable hands-on experience.
Further key support comes from one of the Main Partners, EDISII, a newcomer to the art industry that works closely with artists to produce their artworks in the form of limited-edition fine art prints. For Art Jakarta Papers, EDISII will bring together a selection of fine art prints by Indonesian contemporary artists, ranging from emerging to established figures. Each print in the presentation is created through a careful and collaborative process between EDISII and the artist.
Art Jakarta Papers will feature the Fair’s acclaimed SPOT section, bringing together curated solo presentations of large-scale installations presented by participating galleries. SPOT is conceived as a curatorial and programmatic space that responds sensitively to the spatial character of the exhibition interior, and is situated contextually to establish an ongoing dialogue with the presentations of participating galleries, forming part of a singular exhibition ecosystem. SPOT will feature works by Iwan Effendi, presented by ara contemporary, and the photography collective Ruang MES 56, presented by kohesi Initiatives.
Photo courtesy of Iwan Effendi & ara contemporary.
Complementing the discourse on the role of paper in the art world, Art Jakarta Papers will present a series of six panel discussions on Saturday–Sunday, 7–8 February 2026, exploring various ideas and issues relating to paper. The discussions will cover topics including the position of paper-based artworks in the art ecosystem, the challenges of paper conservation in a tropical climate, international market opportunities for Indonesian paper artists, the revolution of paper-based artwork, paper as a space for artistic experimentation, and paper-based artwork restoration, among others. This series of discussions is designed to include various players in the art industry, from artists, curators, galleries, and collectors to conservators and art institutions. Check the Instagram account @artjakarta and the official website artjakarta.com for further announcements regarding the public program schedule.
Art Jakarta Papers will be open by invitation only on Thursday, 5 February 2026, from 3–9pm. The fair will be open to the public on Friday, 6 February 2026, from 3–9pm and Saturday–Sunday, 7–8 February 2026, from 11am–9pm.
This year, Art Jakarta will present a series of events, beginning with Art Jakarta Papers, followed by Art Jakarta Gardens, which will return for its fifth edition at Hutan Kota by Plataran from 5–10 May 2026, and culminating in the flagship Art Jakarta as the main event, returning to its primary venue, JIExpo Kemayoran, from 2–4 October 2026. Through this series, Art Jakarta affirms its position as a sustainable platform that strengthens the Indonesian art ecosystem whilst also opening up dialogue and exchange of contemporary art practices at the regional level.
Tickets for Art Jakarta Papers will be available for purchase from 21 January 2026, exclusively at artjakarta.com.
