Experiencing the Bandung Photography Triennale 2025

We are once again part of something exciting in Bandung’s art scene—the Bandung Photography Triennale 2025, running from 12 September to 30 October 2025. This second edition carries the theme “Synthetic Vision: The Era of Fiction in Our Culture,” inviting us to reflect on how images are produced, manipulated, and consumed in today’s world.

Walking through the exhibition spaces feels like stepping into a dialogue between cultures, ideas, and perspectives. The main exhibitions are spread across Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, ArtSociates, and Orbital Dago, each offering a different atmosphere yet tied together by the same curatorial vision. Beyond the walls of the main venues, the Satellite Program at Grey Art Gallery, Wangirupa, and Tjap Sahabat expands the conversation with solo shows, group exhibitions, workshops, portfolio reviews, and photobook discussions.

As participants, we don’t just view images—we engage with them. The Triennale challenges us to think about how photographs are no longer neutral records, but tools of power that can sway opinion, influence policy, or even mask uncomfortable truths. This is not only about art appreciation; it is about questioning the visual world we live in.

Being part of this Triennale also means joining a wider network of artists, curators, academics, and photography enthusiasts. We share conversations during artist talks, learn in workshops, and discover fresh insights in seminars. It feels less like attending an exhibition and more like stepping into a collaborative platform—one that grows with every interaction.

What excites us most is seeing how Bandung, through this event, strengthens its place in the global photography discourse. From its roots as the Bandung Photo Showcase back in 2015, to evolving into a full triennial format in 2022, the journey reflects not only persistence but also the city’s growing voice in contemporary art.

With Synthetic Vision, we are invited to not just witness but to rethink. To dismantle, re-engineer, and reimagine the images that shape our daily lives. And in doing so, we leave with more than just inspiration—we carry questions, reflections, and the urge to see the world differently.