Independence is more than a date on the calendar. It is a living, breathing story, shaped by the struggles of the past, carried by the dreams of the present, and written for the generations yet to come. This year, as Indonesia celebrates its 80th year of independence, ASHTA District 8 welcomes Nation Prints—a heartfelt celebration where art, scent, books, and shared spaces come together to honour the spirit of a nation.
Here, independence is not only remembered. It is imagined. It is drawn, written, bottled, and shared. It is quiet yet powerful, personal yet collective. A reflection of how the dreams of a country can live in the smallest, most intimate details.
POSCART: 80 Postcards, 80 Stories
At the centre of Nation Prints is POSCART, a collection of 80 postcard-sized artworks by 80 Indonesian visual artists, curated in collaboration with the Jakarta Illustrator & Creative Arts Festival (JICAF). Each postcard is a window into the artist’s heart.
Some works are poetic, some playful, some deeply contemplative, but all share the same longing for a better tomorrow. From the gentle sketches of Andra Naladira to the bold strokes of Crackthetoy, from the whimsy of kopippoki to the raw expressiveness of Rizal Ulum and YESSIOW, each piece can be taken home, not just as art, but as a keepsake of hope.
Artist Scent Trails: Hope You Can Wear
In a poetic twist, eight artists have transformed their vision for Indonesia into fragrance, collaborating with Project 1945 Perfumery to create the Artist Scent Trails. Bonaventura Kevin, Nadya Noor, Phantasien, Sarkodit, Satwika Kresna, Winny Astrini, Wicaksono Azis, and Wulang Sunu each crafted a scent that captures the spirit of the nation, its memory, its resilience, and its soul.
Spark Market: Creativity in Your Hands
The celebration extends into the Spark Market, where you can browse local treasures from Manawa Living, unusual objects., and Project 1945 Perfumery. Every item here is more than a product, it’s a story of craft, care, and imagination, waiting to be taken home.
Free Reading Space: Pages for the People
Upstairs, in the calm of the Upper Marketplace L2, the Free Reading Space offers a different kind of patriotism: the quiet act of reading and sharing books. Visitors are invited to take a seat, swap a story, or donate a book in good condition—because knowledge, too, is a form of freedom worth passing on.
Conversations & Celebrations
The journey continues with Art Talks on August 9 & 16, where POSCART artists share their inspirations, and with feel-good shopping perks for visitors:
- Spend Rp750,000 and receive a Rp100,000 shopping voucher*
- Spend Rp300,000 and enjoy a complimentary drink from Paris Baguette*
(*While supplies last. Terms & conditions apply.)
Nation Prints runs from August 7–17, 2025 at ASHTA District 8. This Independence Day, let’s not only remember the freedom we’ve won, but reimagine the future we can create together.
