Indonesian design finds "sweet spot" in abandoned Bali theme park

Set in a deserted, overgrown amusement park in Bali, Jia Curated is no ordinary design festival. In this interview, co-founder Budiman Ong said it could carve out a new identity for Indonesian design.

Jia Curated is on show from 14 to 18 August at the Bali Festival Park in Sanur, a site that has been abandoned since the Taman Festival theme park closed down in 2000, and which locals claim is haunted.

With its jungle landscape and graffiti-covered structures, the setting offers a completely different experience for exhibitors and visitors than any other design festival, according to Ong.

"I've been to Maison&Objet in Paris and to the Salone del Mobile in Milan; I like the way they are set up, but we are in Indonesia, so we cannot do the same thing," he told Dezeen.

"We have to bring something more local and we have to infuse a bit of culture into it."

Ong is a designer-maker and founder of the lighting brand Ong Cen Kuang. He founded Jia Curated in 2022 with fellow designers Rudi Winata and Yang Yang Hartono, aiming to "establish Indonesia on the map of global creativity".

Originally held in the grounds of hotel Villa Canggu, the event has grown extensively each year. It has doubled in size since moving to Bali Festival Park in 2024, with 100 exhibitors and 200 brands over 10,000 square metres.

The five-day programme goes beyond the typical trade show, blending design and architecture with art and craft and also incorporating music and performance.

"We found a sweet spot where we can have different things going on," said Ong. "Indonesia is a big country with so many different ethnicities, so there's a lot of inspiration to draw from."

Ong believes the event can forge ties between Indonesia's thriving manufacturing industry and a talented generation of young creatives, building a new identity for a nation more typically associated with craft than design.

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of rattan and among the largest producers of teak and bamboo, so the country is rich with expertise in wood carving and basket weaving. It also has a long heritage of textile production.

"Indonesia is well-known as a place for handicraft and manufacturing, but it also has a lot of design talent," Ong said.

"I don't see the two gelling together well yet. We want to change that, to build a creative ecosystem that is recognised in the international design space."

This ambition will be reflected in exhibitions and initiatives including Architecture in Scale, a showcase of models by 24 of Indonesia's most prolific architects, and Communal Objects, designs for public furniture that could be built by anyone.

Another new addition this year is Waste to Wonder, a programme exploring new ways of turning discarded materials into functional objects. The results include a bookshop made from paper tubes, designed by architect Andra Matin.

Everything is underpinned by the Indonesian concept of Gotong Royong, which refers to a culture of cooperation.

"It's about working together toward the same goal," said Ong.

As the venue is outdoors, all the structures for Jia Curated were designed and built from scratch. The 2024 edition featured pavilions built from scaffolding, bamboo, timber, rattan and more.

After the event is over, these will be taken apart and reused elsewhere.

Ong said this reflects the spirit of Bali, but also gives exhibitors greater freedom to express themselves.

"Bali is quite relaxed," he said. "Things don't have to be super finished; it's more important to tell a story."

"We tell our exhibitors to create experiences," he continued. "It's not about shopping and pricing; it's more about showing the core of your company and the story behind it."

Exhibiting brands for 2025 include Jakarta-based brand AlvinT, founded by designer Alvin Tjitrowirjo, Bali-based ceramics company Gaya Ceramic and Java-based tile company Tegel Kunci.

International participants include Taiwanese designer Shikai Tseng of Studio Shikai, who has curated a dedicated Taiwan pavilion, while the talks programme features Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis and Mexican designer Fernando Laposse.

Ong hopes the event will continue to grow organically, building ties between Indonesian designers and the wider industry.

"We want to build a community," he added. "It's not about making it as big as possible, as fast as possible. We want to make sure we create something that has impact."

Jia Curated 2025 takes place from 14 to 18 August 2025 at Bali Festival Park. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

The post Indonesian design finds "sweet spot" in abandoned Bali theme park appeared first on Dezeen.