Ministry of Culture Pushes to Strengthen Indonesian Fine Arts at Venice Biennale 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Culture is promoting cultural diplomacy efforts to strengthen the position of Indonesian fine arts by presenting the Indonesia Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition La Biennale in Venice, Italy, or Venice Biennale 2026.
In an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that Indonesia’s participation in the Venice Biennale 2026 holds significant meaning for bolstering Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy on a global scale.
According to him, Indonesia’s presence this year represents an important milestone as it is the first participation under the independent Ministry of Culture. In this regard, it is believed that culture is not merely heritage, but also the foundation for the future.
“Indonesia is present not only to introduce culture to the world, but also to participate in shaping global conversations through art,” said Culture Minister Fadli Zon.
The Indonesia Pavilion is located at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Cannaregio 1798, Venice, with a preview day on 7 May 2026 and the exhibition running from 9 May to 22 November 2026.
Under the theme “Printing the Unprinted,” the Indonesia Pavilion is organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Culture through the Directorate General of Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation, with support from the Danantara Indonesia Trust Fund, and in collaboration with Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Negeri Elok, the National Arts and Culture Talent Management, and Venice Art Factory.
Indonesia, said Culture Minister Fadli, possesses one of the most dynamic cultural ecosystems in the world. Even Indonesia’s prehistoric heritage demonstrates that this archipelago has long been one of the oldest centres of human creativity.
“With the cultural richness it possesses, Indonesia has the potential to become one of the world’s cultural centres, where tradition, imagination, and the future meet,” he stated.
The Indonesia Pavilion is curated by Aminudin TH Siregar. In its curatorial process, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica was selected as the pavilion location due to its close connection to graphic arts practices, printing, and process-based artistic production.
According to the Culture Minister, the theme “Printing the Unprinted” is a celebration of the power of imagination that transcends the boundaries of reality.
“Through the works displayed in this pavilion, Indonesian artists present imaginative narratives that fill unrecorded spaces, unheard voices, forgotten memories, and futures that have never been imagined,” he said.
“Printing the Unprinted” brings together seven Indonesian artists across generations: Agus Suwage, Syahrizal Pahlevi, Nurdian Ichsan, R.E. Hartanto, Theresia Agustina Sitompul, Mariam Sofrina, and Rusyan Yasin.
Through the medium of graphic printmaking, the artists present the creation process as a space for encounter, exchange of ideas, and re-reading of the history, identity, and imagination of the Nusantara.
Conceptually, the exhibition draws from a fictional narrative about a grand 15th-century voyage inspired by the imaginary manuscript of Datu Na Tolu Hamonangan from Harajaon Pusuk Buhit in Sumatra.
In addition to the main exhibition, the Indonesia Pavilion also features a series of programmes including artist residencies, art discussions, workshops, and symposia.
All programmes are designed to strengthen knowledge exchange, expand Indonesia’s art networks, and present process- and collaboration-based artistic practices.
As part of strengthening the arts and culture talent ecosystem, the Ministry of Culture through the National Arts and Culture Talent Management (MTN) programme, together with the curator, invites Negeri Elok to involve seven Indonesian talents.
Collaborating with the seven artists of the Indonesia Pavilion in the creation process and exchange of ideas in Venice.
This collaboration uses an art therapy approach that positions art not only as aesthetic expression, but also as a medium for building empathy, nurturing memory, alleviating trauma, and strengthening personal and collective resilience.
“Culture is the source of identity, values, and imagination, while the creative economy is the force that transforms culture into innovation, opportunities, and global influence. Therefore, Indonesia continues to strengthen the relationship between art, tradition, and the creative industry, from visual arts, film, music, literature, to animation, games, and digital culture,” he said.
Through the “Printing the Unprinted” exhibition, the Indonesia Pavilion not only presents artworks, but also offers a perspective on the history, imagination, and future of culture.