In the coastal province of Bali in Indonesia, the ‘Tri Hita Karana’ philosophy—harmony between people, nature and the divine—shapes life and culture. Art & Bali, a celebration of this Balinese way of life, is scheduled for September 12 - 14. The fair spotlights local culture, sustainability and contemporary art and artists from Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region. This inaugural edition launches with the theme Bridging Dichotomies, inviting exhibitors to explore new ways of thinking, proposing contrasts between human and machine or handmade and digital practice to imagine ways to coexist. Kelsang Dolma, the director of Art & Bali, was quoted in the press release as saying, “Art & Bali is an invitation to connect, collaborate and shape a growing art ecosystem in Bali, while building meaningful exchange between culture and commerce.”

The fair will be hosted in Nuanu Creative City, an ecosystem created to support art, culture, education and nature-led living. Its 44 hectares will feature installations by 18 galleries and over 150 artists spread across 50+ programmes, including exhibitions, workshops, performances and talks. Exhibitors include the Santrian Art Gallery, Asia Pacific Print Club, Feb gallery Tokyo, Jakarta and Singapore-based Art Agenda gallery and many others that celebrate Asian art. The fair is centred around the Labyrinth Museum and Gallery in Nuanu and the Labyrinth Dome, an immersive theatre which hosts many of the fair’s performances. A large-scale installation created by Indonesian contemporary artist Heri Dono will be unveiled as part of a larger effort to spark global conversations rooted in Indonesian culture and art. Every evening, the ‘After Dark’ series invites visitors to take in art under the night sky, accompanied by DJ sets and light shows.

Terra Nexus, a vast new media exhibition curated by Switzerland-based Indonesian curator Mona Liem, will feature immersive artworks, virtual reality environments and more experimental art created by 30 local and international artists working at the intersection of art and science. Artists reimagine the relationship between technology, nature and tradition, coming together in an exhibition that addresses myth and machine, ritual and algorithm and AI and cosmology. Terra Nexus features installations by emerging Indonesian artists like Alodia Yap, interactive installations by the Notanlab collective, kinetic light organisms by Muhammad Aji Prasetyo and more. Speaking about the ambitious programme, Liem said, “It’s a laboratory for experimentation and a chance to see how traditional contemporary practices evolve within [the] digital space.”

At the edge of ocean and land, impossible to miss, the newly unveiled THK tower’s swirling wooden spires climb into the sky. Named for 'Tri Hita Karana' and designed by French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani in collaboration with Balinese artist Chiko, the 25 metre tall tower is a viewing platform offering a 360° view of Bali. The ‘symbolic lighthouse’ is made from eco-friendly rattan and ironwood reclaimed from a colonial bridge, echoing Nuanu’s commitment to sustainability and nature-inspired architecture. At night, the THK tower becomes a part of Art & Bali, lit up with a generative art display. Artists depict the values of ‘THK’—Parahyangan (connection with the spiritual), Palemahan (connection with nature) and Pawongan (connection with others)—through AI and code. A web application allows visitors to submit responses that are turned into part of the light show, making each night’s installation unique and a reflection of collective expression.

Lev Kroll, CEO of Nuanu Creative City, said about Art & Bali, “You’re not just visiting a show, you’re entering a city that believes art should interrupt, not embellish. Art here is not an afterthought. It’s not an ornament. At Nuanu, it’s how we build.” Sustainability is a significant focus of the fair’s innovation—instead of using standard disposable temporary walls, the fair’s booths are constructed using steel cores and MDF panels that can be disassembled and reused for future editions. “There’s no formula for what an art fair in Bali should look like. This isn't a borrowed structure, it’s something born of the land itself: mythic, chaotic, beautiful,” said Dolma.

Art & Bali runs from September 12 - 14, 2025, in Nuanu Creative City, Bali, Indonesia. STIR is a media partner for Art & Bali.