Biennale Jogja 18: KAWRUH – Land of Rooted Practices, 5 October – 20 November 2025, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Opening: 5 October 2025, 15:00–21:00 WIB at Kampoeng Mataraman
On view: 5 October – 20 November 2025
Curators: Bob Edrian (Jakarta), Eva Lin (Taiwan), and ketjilbergerak (Yogyakarta)

The 18th Biennale Jogja continues its journey through the overarching themes of Translocality and Transhistoricity as part of the Second Round of the Equator (Khatulistiwa) Series. This edition, curated by Bob Edrian, Eva Lin, and the collective ketjilbergerak, unfolds under the title KAWRUH: Land of Rooted Practices, introducing a framework that explores knowledge as lived experience, collective consciousness, and artistic inquiry.

The Javanese word kawruh signifies knowledge as an accumulation of experiences critically processed through reason and conscience. Within the scope of Biennale Jogja 18, it becomes a philosophical and artistic axis, a constellation of diverse practices grounded in the effort to deeply explore the complexities of the act of knowing.

“Kawruh” emphasizes knowledge as a living practice embedded in local wisdom, manifesting through artistic processes that exist in harmony with nature and surrounding communities. The curatorial approach foregrounds local cosmologies, oral histories, and embodied learning as vital counterpoints to global narratives of progress and development.

Through this lens, Jogja Biennale deploys art as a form of collective knowledge-making, one that not only engages with but also regenerates local traditions, landscapes, and social fabrics.

Artists and Collaborations

Biennale Jogja 18 brings together approximately 60 artists from Indonesia and across the Global South, each contributing to an expansive dialogue on rootedness, solidarity, and imagination. Participating artists include:

Abdi Karya, Agnes Hansella, Ali Umar, Anga Art Collective, Arahmaiani, BIYA Project, Bukhi Prima Putri, Dicky Takndare and Kevin van Braak, Djoko Pekik, Dolorosa Sinaga, Egga Jaya, Entang Wiharso, Fadriah Syuaib, Faisal Kamandobat, Faris Wibisono, Fioretti Vera, Gata Mahardika, Gilang Anom Manapu Manik, Hashel Al Lamki, Herjaka H.S, Imal Malabar, Inter-Asia Woodcut Mapping, Irene Agrivina, Ismu Ismoyo, Iwan Yusuf, Jessica Soekidi and Nurohmad, Karen Hardini and Jagad Cilik, Kawayan de Guia, Kelly Jin Mei, Ki Warno Waskito/Warsono with Ali Azca, Kolektif Arungkala, Kukuh Ramadhan, KV Duong, Laboratorium Sedusun, Li-Tzu Hsu, Liu Yu, Marten Bayu Aji, Mia Bustam with Astrid Reza, Sylvie Tanaga, Alfian Widi, Awanda B. Destia, Kemala Hayati, Nadya Hatta, Nessa Theo, Chandra Rosselinni, Mila Turajlić, Nathalie Muchamad, Novi Kristinawati, Perupa Kulonprogo, Posak Jodian, Rani Jambak, Reetu Sattar, Riyan Kresnandi and MIVUBI, Shooshie Sulaiman and Ayaka Yoshida, Situationist Under Record, Syaura Qotrunadha, Takahiro Iwasaki, Thao Nguyen Phan, Val Lee, Vina Puspita, Yuma Taru & Studio Lihan, Yuta Niwa, and Zhang Xu Zhan.