Jia CURATED 2025

Jia CURATED is an immersive event in Bali that is centred on contemporary craft, design, and cultural practice in Southeast Asia and beyond. Expanding upon its earlier iterations, the 2025 event brings together diverse creative disciplines through exhibitions, installations, talks, and site-specific interactive experiences. Guided by the Indonesian principle of Gotong Royong, the program prioritises collaborative, community-driven initiatives and the cultivation of a sense of belonging, aligning with the meaning of “Jia” (“home” in Chinese).

The central theme for 2025, EVOLVING PERSPECTIVES, is explored through a program that addresses the ongoing shifts in creative thought, practice, and collaboration. The event invites participants to consider the role of curiosity, resilience, inclusivity, and the emergence of new cultural voices within design and craft industries.

Jia CURATED’s exhibitions include a leading showcase of more than 100 exhibitors and over 200 brands, covering a range of fields such as product design, architecture, construction, material exploration, and scent design. A notable curated exhibition, “Architecture in Scale”, presents maquettes from 24 Indonesian architects. Curated by Suzy Annetta of Design Anthology, this initiative examines how craft traditions and cultural contexts shape architectural ideas. Another featured initiative, “Waste to Wonder”, focuses on sustainability by transforming discarded materials into new works using low-tech and craft-based approaches, with participants explicitly highlighted on the event’s official website, including Andra Matin, Millimeter Manifesto, and CUSHCUSH.

The event’s dialogue series, “360° Design Dialogues”, curated by Design Anthology, spotlights underrepresented voices and encourages broad, inclusive discourse. Programmed conversations include sessions such as “In Conversation: Sabine Marcelis”, “Contemporary Japanese Design: Tradition and Innovation”, and “Architectural Evolution: Designing for the Future”. A dedicated session titled “In Conversation: Fernando Laposse” features the London/Mexico City–based designer known for engaging with plant fibres in material innovation, connecting themes of cultural identity, environmental resilience, and social justice.

Further cultural programming includes an “Art Trail” of six site-specific installations featuring multidisciplinary art that responds to organic and technological influences. Music and live performances blending traditional and contemporary forms are staged daily at sundown. Culinary offerings curated to accompany the creative program are also provided.

Jia CURATED’s intended audience encompasses creative practitioners, industry professionals, and members of the wider public who are interested in evolving approaches to design, craft, and architecture, as well as those engaged in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The event is organised by a core team comprising Budiman Ong, Rudi Winata, and Yang Yang Hartono, all with backgrounds in craft, creative practice, and fostering international dialogue. By highlighting unique creative processes and fostering collaboration across backgrounds and disciplines, Jia CURATED positions itself as a platform for cross-cultural exchange and community-driven exploration of design and craft evolution within Southeast Asia’s dynamic creative industries.