ara contemporary, Celebrating Southeast Asian Art

A new contemporary art gallery opens in Jakarta spotlighting artists from Southeast Asia and advocating for their practices both locally and internationally. Located in Jalan Tulodong Bawah, Senayan, ara contemporary was founded by three partners with over 15 years of experience in the art scene Fiesta Ramadanti, Fredy Chandra, and Megan Arlin.

The name ara reflects both the founders’ vision and the gallery’s broader vision. A combination of the founders’ last names (Arlin, Ramadanti, Chandra) and the Sanskrit word for "a place of shelter," ara embodies a space for contemplation and thoughtful considerations. The gallery’s focus will centre on artists whose practices engage with the context of Southeast Asia, exploring the connections between immediacy and global discourse.

Home to two exhibitions spaces, the Main Gallery and Focus, the spaces are designed to be dynamic platforms for dialogue and collaboration. Focus will be dedicated to highlighting emerging artists, art practitioners, writers and curators, providing a space for new and experimental practices.

Their inaugural exhibition, We Begin with Everything, which was on display from 12 April to 4 May 2025, featured 17 artists from across the region. The exhibition took inspiration from 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' (a book by music producer Rick Rubin), reflecting a central tenet of Rubin’s philosophy that the act of creating is an endless, ever-present source.

ara contemporary
Jalan Tulodong Bawah I no 163 Senayan, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta
@aracontemporary.id
aracontemporary.id