Sonobudoyo Museum Represents Indonesia at Islamic Arts Biennale 2025

As one of the leading museums in Indonesia, the Sonobudoyo Museum is participating in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, held at the West Hajj Terminal, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January 25 to May 25, 2025. This event is a global-scale Islamic art exhibition showcasing cultural and artistic expressions from various parts of the world.

The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 offers an exhibition space of 100,000 square meters, combining works from the past and present in one captivating creative space. In addition to displaying historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, the biennale also features workshops, seminars, and panel discussions to enrich the understanding of Islamic art’s contributions to world civilization. This event marks the second edition following the success of the first biennale in 2023, which attracted more than 600,000 visitors.

Sonobudoyo Museum is one of three Indonesian institutions participating, alongside the West Nusa Tenggara Museum (NTB Museum) and the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia. Representatives from the Yogyakarta Special Region Government, including DIY Regional Secretary Beny Suharsono, Head of the DIY Cultural Office Dian Lakshmi Pratiwi, and Head of Sonobudoyo Museum Ery Sustiyadi, also attended the event's opening.

Sonobudoyo Collection: Wayang Sadat and Batik in Islamic Art

At the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, the Sonobudoyo Museum presents distinguished collections rich in historical and spiritual value, namely Wayang Sadat and batik. These collections highlight how Javanese art has adapted to Islamic values and evolved into a medium for religious and aesthetic expression.

Wayang Sadat, for instance, is a cultural heritage that portrays the stories of the Wali Sanga, the Islamic missionaries in the Nusantara. This performing art does not merely narrate history but also conveys the principles of monotheism through character symbolism and storytelling. The ten-piece collection exhibited consists of nine Wali Sanga figures—including Sunan Kalijaga and Sunan Giri—and one Gunungan, symbolizing human spiritual journeys.

Meanwhile, the geometric batik collection presented by the Sonobudoyo Museum reflects the close relationship between mathematics, art, and Islamic spirituality. The selected motifs, such as Kawung, Nitik, and Grompol, carry profound philosophical meanings and are often used to represent the concept of perfection in Islam. The eight batik pieces displayed also hold symbolic significance, as the number eight numerically represents infinity.

Exploring the Theme "The Art of Numbers"

In this biennale, the Sonobudoyo Museum is participating in the satellite exhibition "The Art of Numbers: From Al-Khawarizmi to Al," which highlights the role of numbers in Islamic civilization. This theme explores how numbers are not only integral to sciences such as navigation and architecture but also to Islamic art and design. The Wayang Sadat and batik collections showcased by the Sonobudoyo Museum serve as tangible examples of how numerical elements and geometric patterns are used in Islamic art to convey spiritual and aesthetic meanings.

According to Ery Sustiyadi, Sonobudoyo Museum’s participation in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 is a significant moment to expand global cultural networks and affirm the museum’s role in preserving Islamic art and culture on an international scale. “We hope this participation will further attract global audiences to the richness of Javanese-Islamic art and culture,” he stated.

Echoing this sentiment, DIY Regional Secretary Beny Suharsono emphasized that the Sonobudoyo Museum’s involvement in this biennale is a form of cultural diplomacy, showcasing Yogyakarta’s long-standing Islamic civilization to the world. “We want to demonstrate that our cultural heritage, whether wayang or batik, is not only aesthetically valuable but also carries profound philosophy,” he added.

Javanese-Islamic Heritage on the Global Stage

The participation of the Sonobudoyo Museum in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 proves that Islamic art and culture in Indonesia hold global relevance. By blending local traditions with Islamic values, the collections exhibited not only preserve history but also serve as a cultural bridge connecting the past with the present. It is hoped that the museum’s presence in this international event will open broader opportunities for global collaboration in preserving Islamic art.

As a continuously evolving museum, Sonobudoyo Museum is committed to not only being a repository of historical artifacts but also a center for education and cultural dialogue that inspires future generations.