There is something different about an art fair that does not take place inside a building. Visitors do not queue in front of paintings neatly hung on white walls. Instead, they walk among trees, discover sculptures tucked into corners of the park, listen to music from an open-air stage, and occasionally join in blowing whistles during a storytelling performance.
That was the atmosphere at Art Jakarta Gardens 2026.
The fifth edition of the event, held at Hutan Kota by Plataran in Jakarta, officially concluded after six days with more than 11,000 visitors. A total of 26 galleries from Indonesia and across Asia participated, presenting works throughout the Sculpture Garden as well as inside two exhibition tents spread across the venue.
This year also welcomed several new galleries, expanding the range of artistic presentations while creating opportunities for encounters with increasingly diverse audiences and collectors.
Art That Invited Visitors to Participate
One of the things that made Art Jakarta Gardens stand out was how many of the works did not simply exist to be viewed, but also invited direct participation from visitors.
ArtSerpong Gallery introduced a game-based artwork purchasing concept, while Bibit presented a gacha experience that attracted many visitors. The presentation by iForte Energi also drew attention by incorporating pools of water, reflections, and shifting sunlight throughout the day.
Beyond the installations, several performances made the atmosphere feel even more alive. Artist Sarita Ibnoe, presented by YIRI ARTS, performed Bertemu di Tengah by combining soil collected from different locations.
Meanwhile, PM Toh delivered a traditional Acehnese storytelling performance that invited visitors to blow whistles together. Children and adults alike took part, making the boundary between audience and performance feel increasingly fluid.
When Nightfall Transformed the Atmosphere
As evening approached, the atmosphere across the venue changed completely. Lights began to glow between the trees, giving the park a more intimate feel.
Many visitors lingered around the Taman Tugu Majapahit area to experience The Atrium of Flux by Sigit D. Pratama, presented by Bach Multi Global, Protelindo, and iForte.
At night, the installation created a completely different atmosphere from what visitors experienced during the day. The interplay of light among the trees transformed the park into what felt like an entirely new space in the middle of the city.
Elsewhere across the venue, the music stage curated by Plainsong Live gradually filled with visitors. Performances by musicians such as Ali and Batavia Collective turned the area into a place where people gathered, relaxed, and enjoyed the evening together.
What stood out most was how naturally everything blended together. The music, the park, and the artworks never felt separated from one another.
More Than Just an Art Fair
Art Jakarta Gardens was not simply a place where people came to buy or observe artworks. Small conversations unfolded in nearly every corner of the venue.
Young visitors could be seen enthusiastically asking gallery staff about the artworks, while collectors held relaxed discussions in the open-air spaces. Meanwhile, the discussion series curated by mature.idn explored how art could intersect with medical topics and other forms of knowledge rarely discussed within art spaces.
What felt most significant was how the event created a more fluid meeting ground for artists, collectors, communities, and the general public. In a city like Jakarta, which often feels dense and fast-paced, Art Jakarta Gardens offered a way of experiencing art that felt more relaxed and approachable rather than exclusive or rigid.
Art Jakarta will return with its main fair at JIExpo Kemayoran from October 2–4, 2026, followed by the second edition of Art Jakarta Papers at Pondok Indah Mall 3 from February 18–21, 2027.
