PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) held a press conference ahead of the 2025 ITB Art Market on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) in the West Hall of the Ganesha Campus. This legendary arts event, last held in 2014, will return with a new, more inclusive format and on a larger scale.

ITB's Vice Rector for Communication, Partnership, Alumni, and Administration, Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara, S.Sn., M.Sn., emphasized that the 2025 ITB Art Market is no longer just an event for students of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (FSRD), but rather an arts celebration initiated by the entire ITB academic community.

"Previously, the event was limited to FSRD and associated with students. Now, we're scaling it up to become an ITB event, even a national one. This transformation is crucial because Indonesia's creative industry is growing rapidly and becoming a pillar of the economy," he said on Wednesday (October 1, 2025).

Carrying the theme “Setakat Lekat”, the 2025 ITB Art Market emphasizes the diversity of art practices across disciplines, communities, and generations.

There is the LIGA KMSR ITB exhibition which presents the names of big artists and collectives, including Entri Soemantri, Tisna Sanjaya, Wiyoga Muhardanto, Isa Perkasa, Ajiba Haq, Nia Gautama, Renitta Karuna, Tactic Plastic, Studio Pancaroba, and Arsya Ardiansyah.

This year, the ITB Art Market will feature 257 art, culinary, and creative tenants, five food trucks, and various interactive facilities ranging from digital navigation maps to community interaction areas. Exclusive merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, bucket hats, pins, tumblers, and a special edition collection of official mascots will also be available.

As the main series, Adicitra Ganesha will showcase works by national masters, ITB alumni, and artists from various cities, using an integrative approach to art, science, and technology (STEM). The main auction will take place on October 8, 2025, with all proceeds from the sale of artworks going to the Education and Arts Sustainability Fund, an endowment fund that supports the sustainability of higher education and the development of creativity in Indonesia.

Dr. Rikrik emphasized that the transformation of the Art Market also aims to create a multiplier effect for the city of Bandung. "If we look at Yogyakarta with Art Jog or Jakarta with Art Jakarta, art festivals have a significant impact on the host cities, from hotels and restaurants to economic transactions. Bandung should also be able to experience this positive impact through the ITB Art Market," he said.

With the support of various sponsors, strategic partners, and the government, Dr. Rikrik hopes Pasar Seni can develop into an international-class festival. "Arts festivals have always been an indicator of a happy city. With Pasar Seni ITB 2025, we want to demonstrate that Bandung is capable of becoming a hub for national, and even international, arts festivals," he added.

Similarly, the Chairperson of Pasar Seni ITB 2025, Zusfa Roihan, S.Sn., M.Sn., stated that this festival is not just a celebration of fine arts, but also a moment of togetherness. "Pasar Seni is not just a celebration of fine arts, but a cross-border momentum that unites artists, the community, and various sectors to move forward together. With media support, we hope this message can reach even wider," she said.

Meanwhile, the Dean of FSRD ITB, Dr. Kahfiati Kahdar, MA, emphasized the importance of continuing the Art Market tradition which has been a cultural icon of Bandung for decades.

The 2025 ITB Art Market is scheduled to take place on October 18-19, 2025, at the ITB Ganesha Campus, attracting thousands of visitors, hundreds of tenants, and a series of arts events designed to be inclusive and sustainable. (Teguh)