Alicia Putri
Aug 12, 2025
Following the success of its debut last year, the second edition of ARTSUBS returns with a unique format that blends the dynamic energy of an artists’ fair with the conceptual depth of a biennale. This flexible approach opens a space for contemporary art practices that are constantly moving and experimenting, showcased this year through the works of more than 120 artists, ranging from emerging talents to nationally and internationally renowned names.
The second edition of ARTSUBS returns with a unique format that blends the dynamic energy of an artists
Officially running from August 2 to September 7, 2025, ARTSUBS takes place at Balai Pemuda Surabaya. The exhibition is curated by Nirwan Dewanto and Asmudjo J. Irianto, who also serve as artistic directors, under the leadership of Rambat as Director.
The theme for this year, Material Ways, is an exploration of how artists use materials and mediums not just as tools, but as a language. The physicality of the materials becomes a sign of the artists’ dialogue with their time and surroundings. It reflects the richness of contemporary Indonesian art, which, since the mid-1970s, has moved beyond the confines of painting and sculpture, venturing into everyday life and embracing an “anti-aesthetic” approach. This evolution has blurred the boundaries between high art and popular culture, making art more accessible and dynamic.
Material Ways also addresses the post-industrial world and how we view and treat the abundance of materials around us through art. Artists have embraced a wide range of materials, from plastics, glass, and synthetic substances to waste, video, and even AI-generated works. These diverse mediums merge the virtual and physical worlds, creating new forms that challenge perceptions of reality.
In the midst of a flood of material production across industries, contemporary art offers space for reflection on the issues brought about by super-consumerism. This theme resonates strongly with Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, where rapid industrialization, economic acceleration, and high consumption are shaping the urban landscape.
Material Ways celebrates diversity in art, dissolving the old hierarchy between “high art” and “low art” and revitalizing conventional forms like painting by allowing them to absorb new styles and narratives. The exhibition also incorporates new media such as video and augmented reality, creating conversations between traditional and technology-based art. In today’s digital world, there is a growing longing for the tangible and handmade, a human touch that carries emotion, imperfection, and authenticity that machines and algorithms cannot replicate.