TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The annual art exhibition Artjog 2026 officially opened with a cultural speech by Gusti Kanjeng Ratu or GKR Bendara, Chief of the Cultural and Heritage Department of the Yogyakarta Palace (KHP Nitya Budaya Keraton), on June 19, 2026, at the Jogja National Museum courtyard in Yogyakarta.
GKR Bendara's presence replaced that of Didit Hediprasetyo, the son of President Prabowo, who was initially scheduled to open the event. Several artists and business partners protested the involvement of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation in Artjog 2026, with some of the demonstrators subsequently detained.
Prior to the opening, pushback erupted on social media regarding the involvement of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation. A digital poster announcing Didit's participation suddenly vanished and was replaced with a pink poster naming GKR Bendara as the event opener. Artjog 2026, themed "Ars Longa Generatio," features 96 artists under the curatorial direction of Farah Wardani, and runs from June 19 to August 30, 2026.
Tensions at the Opening Night
Tensions escalated following the opening ceremony at the Jogja National Museum courtyard on the evening of June 19, 2026. A group of individuals threw red paint across the terracotta facade of Roby Dwi Antono's commissioned Artjog artwork.
Meanwhile, several masked individuals scattered flowers in a manner resembling a funeral rite. Security personnel subsequently detained the protesters, subjecting them to physical violence.
The protesters, calling themselves Art Jokes, expressed their disappointment with Artjog's management for accepting financial backing from the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation.
"The theatrical act and paint throwing are expressions of artistic freedom," said Agam Wispi, identified as one of the Art Jokes protesters, when met at the Jogja National Museum on Friday, June 19, 2026. He also criticized the excessive and repressive security measures deployed by Artjog's team.
Artjog Program Director Gading Paksi apologized to the demonstrators who had experienced violence, stating that the detentions and physical altercations breached Artjog’s internal regulations. Gading expressed appreciation for the feedback, viewing the protests as a form of freedom of expression. He did not deny that several Artjog partners had already withdrawn from the collaboration after the controversy surrounding the foundation's funding became public.
Protests and Partner Withdrawals
Before the launch, several artists and commercial partners took to social media to voice their objections. Among the dissenting artists was Irene Agrivina, founder of Honf, a laboratory for new media and technology art. A day prior to the opening, Honf posted a public protest on Instagram targeting Didit’s involvement, arguing that having him open the event compromised the responsibility, values, and sanctity of the artistic space.
According to Irene, the artists were unaware that Artjog's management had secured funding from the Didit foundation, as Honf artists had only communicated with the curator regarding the display of their artwork. Honf had initially planned to block access to their exhibition space if Didit attended the opening; however, following his cancellation, the collective chose to proceed with their display.
Similarly, Janti Wignjopranoto, Manager of ViaVia Restaurant, confirmed that her establishment had severed its partnership with Artjog over the foundation's involvement. ViaVia also detailed its reasons for withdrawing on Instagram. When contacted by phone, Janti emphasized that the cancellation was a matter of upholding principles of independence, diversity, participation, and transparency, aligning with the core values and commitments the business has long maintained.
Artjog Management's Response
Artjog CEO and Founder Heri Pemad explained that the festival partnered with the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation because the organization appeared to share a matching vision for advancing Indonesia's cultural ecosystem. He noted that while the foundation provided financial support, it held no sway over the festival's artistic or curatorial direction. "It does not influence the artistic decisions or curatorial direction of the festival," Pemad told Tempo on June 19, 2026.
Heri Pemad declined to disclose the exact amount of funding received for the event, noting only that the foundation was one of several supporting partners, as Artjog does not rely on a single sponsor. Pemad argued that since its inception, Artjog has always thrived on a spirit of mutual cooperation and collaboration among artists, government bodies, the private sector, and the public via ticket sales.
While Heri Pemad had invited Didit to open the event as a customary gesture of partnership, he noted that Didit ultimately canceled due to a prior scheduling conflict. Pemad welcomed the public criticism, particularly from the artistic community, viewing it as a sign of a healthy, dynamic art ecosystem where freedom of expression flourishes.
He added that the backlash serves as a valuable lesson for Artjog's management in navigating future partnerships. "It reflects their affection and concern for Artjog," he said.
Contextual Shadows of Corporate and Political Funding
Mikke Susanto, a lecturer in the Visual Arts Governance Department at the Indonesian Art Institute's Faculty of Fine Arts, argued that Artjog's management should not have overlooked Didit’s lineage as the son of Prabowo, given the latter's controversial track record regarding human rights violations during the New Order regime.
According to Mikke, the eruption of public outrage is significant because it frames Artjog not merely as an exhibition space, but as a broader cultural product. "The public criticism indicates their attention to Artjog as a festival owned by the community," Mikke added.
This funding controversy is not unprecedented for the festival. In 2016, Artjog’s partnership with PT Freeport sparked intense protests from artists, leading to public boycotts, demonstrations, the temporary defacing of corporate logos, and a crowdfunding campaign to return Rp100 million to the American mining company. Mikke emphasized that Artjog’s reliance on controversial sponsors must be addressed permanently. "The management team needs to reassess the funding concept to align with public expectations," he concluded.
Tempo is still attempting to secure an official statement from the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation at the time of this publication.
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