, an incubation program designed to shape not just artistic technique but the full spectrum of exhibition-making.){kind=link}
From 18 April to 11 May, CAN’S Gallery in Central Jakarta became the stage for AARO, a debut exhibition by Ada Khansa, Ansn Martin, Red Maerra, and Oddyendry. The show marks the culmination of their nineteen-month journey with the Atreyu Moniaga Project (AMP), an incubation program designed to shape not just artistic technique but the full spectrum of exhibition-making.
The name AARO—formed from the initials of the four artists—also carries the resonance of “the strength of a mountain.” For the group, it’s a mantra of resilience as they step into a new chapter of their creative lives.
Across more than forty canvases, each artist offers a distinct lens on contemporary life:
- Ada Khansa’s Sandbox reflects on childhood struggles with raw intimacy.
- Ansn Martin’s WOY! captures shifting self-perceptions and values in ten bold works.
- Red Maerra’s ASLPLS scrutinizes the paradox of alienation in a hyper-connected world.
- Oddyendry’s Tungkai traces a homecoming journey, embracing the past through eleven paintings.
Together, their works weave a narrative of coming-of-age, identity, and social observation—personal yet universally resonant.
The exhibition is more than a showcase of paintings. The artists themselves took on fundraising, editorial work, archiving, and logistics, embodying AMP’s philosophy that artmaking is holistic. Atreyu Moniaga, AMP’s initiator and mentor, highlighted that the glamour of being an artist is only one side of the story—the other is filled with revisions, deadlines, critiques, and the grind of production. AARO’s commitment, he noted, makes the hard work look effortless, though it is anything but.
Long-time AMP collaborators—Wilhemus Willy (Graphic Designer), Joshua Agustinus (Exhibition Designer), and Nin Djani (Writer)—contribute to the project, while CAN’S Gallery continues its two-decade tradition of supporting artists and curators. The exhibition is also documented in a limited-print artbook, ensuring the journey is archived for posterity.
AARO invites visitors to experience not just an art exhibition, but a layered encounter with art, space, and the lived realities of emerging artists. For updates on tours, talks, and workshops, follow @atreyumoniaga.project on Instagram.
