Artinformal Gallery, EDSU House, Esther Schipper, Kaikai Kiki Gallery and Nan Ke Gallery

Art Jakarta will be taking place at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta once again this year, from 3 to 5 October, featuring 75 galleries. We speak to five of them participating for the first time: Artinformal Gallery, EDSU House, Esther Schipper, Kaikai Kiki Gallery and Nan Ke Gallery, to find out their motivations for being a part of the art fair, what they will be bringing, and their expectations.

Artinformal Gallery

Artinformal Gallery, based in Manila, will be showing the works of two artists. Pope Bacay portrays architectural structures and landscape views in his oil and acrylic paintings. A highlight work on display will be Cascais: A Study in Passing (2025). “This painting comes from a weathered pink wall I saw in Cascais, Portugal,” says Bacay. “What caught my attention were the details left by time -the chipped paint, the dirt, and the small frame on the wall that now holds nothing.” He adds, “It feels like a trace of something that used to be there, but is now gone.”

The works of Art Tavera will also be shown, and will feature his signature crude strokes in bright colours, in a combination of his abstract and graffiti influences. A highlight work is Disco Sits Still (2025). “The layered, collaged surfaces reflect the sense of familiar things shifting and morphing around us,” shares the artist. “Each piece is a response to the pace of today’s world, capturing the tension and beauty that emerge when everything feels in motion."

Gallery Director Tina G. Fernandez says, “We joined to get more exposure in Southeast Asia and because of our relationship with Tom Tandio.” She adds, “I expect to meet new collectors and strengthen relationships with the ones we already know. Also, we would like to present the artwork of our younger artists and introduce them to the Indonesian market.”

EDSU House

Jerojerrr, *The Survivor, Fu…*, 2025, graphite on canvas, 47 × 102 cm. Image courtesy of EDSU Gallery.

EDSU House, based in Yogyakarta, will be presenting the works of Anusapati, Ayurika, Jerojerrr, Mutiara Reswari, Samsul Arifin, as well as Shih Yun, a Singaporean artist, and the first overseas artist the gallery has worked with. Anusapati, whose work was featured at the entrance of the recently concluded ArtJog 2025, will have his drawings and sculptures on display, to explore themes of ecological awareness and cultural reflection.

Gallery Manager Ningtyas Benita says, “We hope for strong sales at Art Jakarta, especially with the kind of crowd the fair usually attracts. But we are also being realistic. The first time participating in an art fair is not easy for anyone.” She adds, “We are looking forward to connecting with people in the industry and introducing ourselves to a wider network.

Esther Schipper

Esther Schipper is a Berlin gallery with spaces in Paris, New York and Seoul. It has engaged with the Asian art world for more than 20 years. Their participation stems from a long-time conversation with the art fair. “Over the years, we have discussed the possibility of joining the fair, as we have always respected its vision—its focus on artists and practices from across Asia,” says Shaw Muchi, Director Asia. “Now that our gallery is firmly established in Korea, we feel that the time is right to participate.”

While it is not the first time that the gallery team has visited Indonesia, this will be the first presentation of Esther Schipper in the country. Muchi says, “We strongly believe that in-person dialogue is the most meaningful way to learn and to build lasting connections. We hope that Art Jakarta will provide a vibrant stage for these exchanges to take place.”

Ugo Rondinone, *green yellow nun*, 2025, bronze. Image courtesy of Esther Schipper.

For the fair, they will be presenting a selection of works by artists with Asian cultural backgrounds, including works by Anicka Yi, Simon Fujiwara, and Hyunsun Jeon. Alongside these, the gallery also show a three-meter-high sculpture from Ugo Rondinone’s nuns + monks series.

Kaikai Kiki Gallery

Founder of Tokyo-based Kaikai Kiki Gallery Takashi Murakami first visited Jakarta in November 2022 to speak at IDEAFEST, and was taken by the energy of the art scene as well as the city in general. While the gallery has participated in other art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong and ART SG, it has not yet engaged directly with collectors in Indonesia. A visit from Fair Director Tom Tandio to Japan last year started the conversation for the gallery’s participation.

Eimi Mori, Gallery Director, says, “We are very much looking forward to meeting collectors whom we have not had the chance to connect with through our previous fairs, and to introducing the vision and presentation of Kaikai Kiki Gallery to a new audience. At the same time, we hope to deepen our understanding of Jakarta’s unique culture and vibrant art scene through these new encounters.

Hideyasu Moto, *Sky Dog*, 2024, oil on canvas, 116.7 × 91cm. ©︎Hideyasu Moto. Image courtesy of Kaikai Kiki Gallery.

Kaikai Kiki will be showing the works of Mr., AYA TAKANO, ob, Emi Kuraya, MADSAKI, Otani Workshop, Tomoyumi, Shoko Nakazawa, Chinatsu Ban, Hideyasu Moto, Isoo Togawa, Masaya Kondo, Saori Nagata, Alison Friend.

AYA TAKANO, *Revival of the Hirado Oniyōchō, Mino, Abudako, Tokkuri, Mikinokuchi, Manwaigi* (*Hirado Oniyōchō Cape, Mino Cape, Abudako Cape, Sake Decanter, Mikinokuchi, Manwai Outfit*), 2025, oil on canvas, 53 × 45.5 × 2cm. ©︎2025 AYA TAKANO / Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Image courtesy of Kaikai Kiki Gallery.

A highlight artwork is Sky Dog by Hideyasu Moto. The artist is known for his artworks with pop and surreal elements rendered in bright colours, with rich storytelling. Another highlight work is Revival of the Hirado Oniyōchō, Mino, Abudako, Tokkuri, Mikinokuchi, Manwaigi (Hirado Oniyōchō Cape, Mino Cape, Abudako Cape, Sake Decanter, Mikinokuchi, Manwai Outfit) by AYA TAKANO, inspired by her visit to the Kumbh Mela festival in India earlier this year. The work is a combination of her experience on the trip, and her research into the design of traditional Japanese folk tools.

Nan Ke Gallery

Nan Ke Gallery, in Shanghai, will be showing works from an international group of artists, including Olaf Hajek, Holden Willard, Helena Minginowicz, Martine Poppe, Marlon Wobst, Wenjie Yu, Xiaochi Dong, Vu Thuy Mai, Mengfan Bai and Yanmeng Zhang.

Art Jakarta returns to JIExpo Kemayoran from 3 to 5 October 2025. Image courtesy of Art Jakarta.

“We hope our participation will not only bring greater visibility to our artists in Southeast Asia but also allow us to engage with curators, institutions, and collectors in the region,” say gallery founders Otto Neu and Amber Xiangning Lu. “For Nan Ke Gallery, international exchange has always been central to our mission. We expect Art Jakarta to be a place where ideas and practices can circulate freely, and where our artists’ voices can resonate with audiences beyond their immediate local contexts.” They add, “We are particularly interested in contributing to dialogues around contemporary image-making, materiality, and the cultural intersections that shape artistic practice today.”

This article is presented in partnership with Art Jakarta. Art & Market is proud to be an official media partner of Art Jakarta.

Tickets are now available for purchase. For more information, visit artjakarta.com. Look out for our next article, where we will be sharing an overview of what visitors can look forward to at the art fair.

Five New Galleries at Art Jakarta 2025

Art & Bali