Indonesia Showcases Talent at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026
HONG KONG, KOMPAS.com – For three days, 240 galleries from 41 countries transformed the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) into one of Asia’s busiest art exhibition floors at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026. From Friday (27/3/2026) to Sunday (29/3/2026), the event welcomed 91,500 visitors from around the world.
As in previous years, the works on display came in all forms and media, from monumental textile installations to digital art, which for the first time received its own dedicated platform in Asia.
However, among the hundreds of works, one corner drew attention in a different way. Kompas.com had the opportunity to witness the event directly during the press preview on Wednesday (25/3/2026).
A sign reading “Rising Currents” stood in one of the exhibition areas. The sign listed eight participating Indonesian galleries: EDSU house (Yogyakarta), Galeri Ruang Dini (Bandung), ISA Art Gallery, RUCI Art Space, SAL PROJECT, SEWU SATU, Vice & Virtue (all from Jakarta), and Puri Art Gallery from Bali.
Rising Currents is part of the National Cultural Arts Talent Management (MTN) programme initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
The programme aims to identify, develop, and promote Indonesian artistic and cultural talent in a structured and sustainable manner, while connecting them with opportunities for capacity building and market access, both nationally and globally.
Participation in Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 forms part of the International Recognition stage within the MTN Cultural Arts framework, opening opportunities for Indonesian galleries and artists to perform on global stages and strengthen Indonesia’s position in the world contemporary art landscape.
Director General of Development, Utilisation, and Nurturing of Culture at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Ahmad Mahendra, stated that the programme is more than just symbolic presence.
“Through ‘Rising Currents’, we are not only presenting works but also strengthening connectivity among galleries as key nodes in Indonesia’s visual arts ecosystem,” he said.
Mahendra added that the initiative also opens up broader spaces for collaboration, while ensuring the diversity of artistic practices among Indonesian visual arts talents, both emerging and established, can be involved inclusively in the global visual arts arena.
RUCI Art Space itself is a contemporary art space from South Jakarta that was established in 2014. Starting from its debut exhibition in an abandoned restaurant, the gallery has now developed into a 200-square-metre art space.
The name “RUCI” means a source of light, taste, and enjoyment, while also reflecting its mission as a hub for the broader creative industry.
In its booth at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026, RUCI presented 32 works from two emerging female artists based in Jakarta, namely Cecil Mariani and Aharimu. The works of both reflect the diversity of approaches in contemporary Indonesian art today, from explorations of identity to dynamics of the body and personal visual narratives.
Gallery Director and Co-Founder of RUCI Art Space, Rio Pasaribu, appreciated the support from the MTN Cultural Arts programme.
“We appreciate the support from the MTN Cultural Arts programme in opening access for Indonesian galleries to international platforms like this (Art Basel Hong Kong 2026),” said Rio.