Between Ethics and Aesthetics: Curation Methods for Contemporary Islamic Painting in Indonesia

This study explores the curatorial methods of contemporary Islamic painting in Indonesia, formed by a synthesis of ethics and aesthetics. Rooted in postcolonial history and the rise of diverse academic art institutions, a curatorial approach is developed that balances ethical principles and aesthetic innovation. With a qualitative descriptive method, data were gathered through interviews with artists and Islamic art curators, supported by curatorial and content analysis of exhibitions. Findings reveal that curators must harmonize Islamic ethical foundations with contemporary visual concepts through thematic organization, contextualization and audience segmentation. Curatorial reflexivity is essential to ensure impartiality and critical evaluation of form and style. The study identifies three curatorial themes (calligraphic, representational, and nonrepresentational) emerging since the 1995 Istiqlal II Festival. The study demonstrates continual aesthetic evolution within Islamic ethical boundaries.