What actually makes something alive? Beyond basic biological markers, humanity’s defining trait has always been the drive to create. Since ancient times, we have crafted objects, drawings, dolls, and machines that mirror living beings, constantly testing the limits of our own creative agency.
Opening in November 2026 and running through April 2027, Museum MACAN in Jakarta is addressing these timeless questions in its new exhibition season.
By bringing ancient beliefs and modern algorithms into the same space, the lineup examines how ideas of spirit, soul, and vital force extend well beyond the human body. As technology increasingly replicates tasks once exclusive to human ingenuity, the line between creator and creation continues to blur.
The upcoming shows invite visitors to consider a central conundrum: how much control do we retain over the tools we build, and how does creativity shift when technology assumes part of the creative process?
The season presents the first solo museum exhibition in Indonesia by Bandung-based art collective Tromarama (founded in 2006 by Febie Babyrose, Herbert Hans, and Ruddy Hatumena).
Known for blending stop-motion animation, digital installations, and algorithmic code, Tromarama tackles hyperreality and the shifting boundaries between physical and virtual realms.
Their work joins special presentations by Eko Nugroho, who fuses traditional craft with street art and comics to examine socio-political identity, and Iwan Effendi, co-founder of Papermoon Puppet Theatre, whose practice explores embodiment, memory, and the bond between puppet, puppeteer, and viewer.
Interactive Soundscapes and Shared Spaces
Alongside the main galleries, the Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space features new media artist, educator, and musician Mira Rizki. Her practice focuses on sound and how we process auditory memories and daily sensory environments.
Her interactive installation offers a grounded space where younger audiences can connect with non-human elements and natural forces. By listening to ambient sounds, feeling physical vibrations, and observing visual textures, visitors collaborate to leave a collective trace while developing a deeper awareness of co-existence.
“How do humans endow objects and technology with the qualities of life, and how do those objects, in turn, shape the way humans think, act, and understand the world?” the museum poses as a central premise for the season.
Through this dialogue between traditional craft, puppetry, and digital code, Museum MACAN establishes a space where artificial intelligence and physical performance meet to question who or what is really driving the creative process.
