The year 2025 can rightly be referred to as a highly repressive era. But the good news is that this repressive political climate has triggered an explosion of resistance art. Art has transformed into the language of resistance against silencing.
The wave of repression began in February 2025, when the post-punk duet Sukatani faced intimidation from the authorities. This began with the song Bayar, Bayar, Bayar (Pay, Pay, Pay), which was a criticism of the police. Sukatani's musical expression arose from a portrait of people's daily lives. The authorities should have thanked them for the reminder.
Repression struck again in August 2025. Police raided and intimidated people who displayed One Piece flags. These raids were a clear curb on the freedom of expression. It was a symbolic terror against the people.
This accumulation of frustration eventually transformed into a movement. The hashtag #SeniMelawanTirani (art opposing tyranny) went viral in September 2025, triggered by violence from the authorities against civilian demonstrators. Artists appeared as the driving force. Unwilling to live in an ivory tower, they stood with the people opposing tyranny.
A similar frustration is reflected in Tempo's 2025 Best Artworks. In this gloomy political climate, small candles of hope have appeared. Young artists are working with a range of media. In the music category, almost 70 percent of the best albums are by young musicians. And in fine arts, young people are active in a number of exhibitions.
Young artists have become the markers of our time – as well as social alarms. One standout figure is Rani Jambak. Through her album Vibra Genetika, the 33-year-old musician delivers an ecological message in an unconventional way. She records the sound of wind in the hills and the rhythm of river water, then digitally processes them into unique musical compositions.
Rani honors nature as a source of inspiration. Her works are a silent criticism against reckless exploitation of nature. Vibra Genetika was released in March 2025 from Rani's home in Agam Regency, West Sumatra – long before the floods and landslides devastated parts of Sumatra in late November.
Then there is the album Make to Believe from the group LOVE IS. They use the jazz tradition as a medium of resistance, not directly through the lyrics or music, but from the way they perform. All the personnel appear as frontmen. Equality is the keyword. LOVE IS presents a miniaturized version of Indonesia that is pluralistic.
In fine arts, Aurora Arazzi's installation at ArtSociates-Lawangwangi, Bandung, West Java, teaches the true essence of meaningful participation. In her works, the people are not positioned as passive spectators. For example, in her Sailing the Duckweed installation, visitors must go down some steps to a lower level, then follow a narrow and winding path. Meaningful participation involves active experience, both mentally and physically.
In the realm of poetry, Nirwan Dewanto's contribution is his book Ke Arah Museum Revolusi (Towards the Museum of Revolution). He includes sharp criticism of the political scenario that paved the way for Gibran Rakabuming Gibran to participate in the 2024 presidential election. Poetry is a space for revealing oddities within democracy.
The 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, once said that if more politicians knew poetry, the world might be a slightly better place. And it is not impossible that if more of the leaders in this republic truly appreciate art and literature, Indonesia would be a slightly more sane place.
– Read the complete story in Tempo English Magazine
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2080360/small-candles-of-resistance-ar