Away We Go

Where Kuala Lumpur’s finance district learns to slow down

Kimpton’s Malaysian debut promised contrasts of modernity and tradition. It actually delivered.

Culture and Entertainment

‘Para Perasuk’ proves that Indonesian stories can travel

With invented rituals, emotional stakes and theatrical performances from Anggun and Maudy Ayunda, Wregas Bhanuteja’s latest film turned a culturally specific story into global resonance.

Arts

Why this unusual exhibit on waste really wasn’t about waste

At Erasmus Huis, a cross-cultural exhibition asks Indonesians to rethink their relationship with waste, starting at home.

Conversation

The more Indonesian her stories are, the further they travel

Intan Paramaditha's novels raise questions that transcend nationalities, despite writing unapologetically Indonesian stories.

Culture and Entertainment

Have we entered an era of happy love songs again?

After years of craving catharsis through mournful ballads, Indonesian listeners appear to have moved on with an emotional reset.

Culture and Entertainment

The final chapter of ‘Danur’, and the actress who refused to let it go

Prilly Latuconsina spent a decade protecting a role most actresses would have left behind. 'Danur: The Last Chapter' is her reward and her goodbye.

Arts

Paper chaser: How Rudy Atjeh makes art out of paperwork

The Aceh-born, Yogyakarta-based artist talks us through his latest work at Art Jakarta Papers, and why cutting paper is a surprisingly reflective act.

Culture and Entertainment

Can the mind behind ‘Jumbo’ capture our imaginations again with ‘Na Willa’?

Ryan Adriandhy made the biggest film of last year. This year, he’s following it with a 5-year-old girl and a radio.

Conversation

Bakti Barito nurtures future guardians via environmental education

A butterfly flaps its wings, and a storm forms half a world away: Called the butterfly effect, this theory highlights that sometimes the smallest change can trigger the biggest events.

Conversation

When the lights go out: What tiny fireflies teach us about healing the Earth

In a small Bali village, one man is trying to bring back the fireflies. His story reminds us that healing the Earth often begins with the smallest of lights.

The Neighborhood

When refugee kids couldn’t enroll, locals built them classrooms

Locked out of Indonesia’s education system and with their futures in limbo, refugee youth are finding hope in grassroots classrooms powered by Indonesians who chose to show up.

The Neighborhood

Beyond cleanup: A Sunday with Trash Hero Jakarta

It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of Jakarta’s waste crisis. But on this Sunday, I learned that every act of cleanup is also an act of resistance.