ARTSUBS is envisioned as an annual contemporary art exhibition that presents to the public a mapping of Indonesia’s contemporary art landscape. The exploration of visual language and creativity in this field has grown rapidly and needs to be extended—broader, deeper, and further—so it can become an organic part of society.
This is especially crucial in relation to the development of the creative economy and the strengthening of critical thinking in Indonesia. Therefore, major cities in Indonesia—such as Surabaya, the second-largest city rich in culture, history, and economic capital—require spaces that can accommodate contemporary art, particularly as many existing cultural and artistic sites have been lost. These spaces are essential for enabling art to become a practice that contributes to the "dreams" of creativity, imagination, awareness, and critical thought within society.