RICKY “babay” JANITRA
Ricky Janitra, known as Babay, was born in Bogor, West Java, on January 18, 1985. He studied Graphic Arts at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts from 2003 to 2007.
After beginning his career in the visual arts, Babay developed an artistic practice focused on sonic experiments, interactive technology, and the interconnectedness of humans, nature, and machines.
In 2009, he began focusing on painting and held a solo exhibition in 2010 entitled
In 2010, he held his first solo exhibition, "CYCLTURE," marking the initial phase of his exploration before shifting to a multidisciplinary approach.
His works now explore electronic systems, sound, light, sensors, and environmental phenomena, creating vibrant, responsive installations,
often creating poetic and experimental experiential spaces.
Babay's work is now increasingly complex in the medium of experimentation
Babay has exhibited at various international festivals and galleries, including the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Australia (2015), Denfrie Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark (2016), and Heyri Gallery, South Korea (2017). He was a finalist and winner of the Favorite Work award at the Bandung Contemporary Art Award (BACAA) in 2016 and 2017, and was involved in the media art exhibition "Dialogue with Senses," which brought together Korean and Indonesian artists.
Through his artwork, Babay seeks to convey social critique and everyday experiences.
One of his works was exhibited at the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival in Australia.
Today, Babay's artistic practice increasingly emphasizes the interactions between living organisms, environmental data, and electronic systems. He develops various installations that combine sound, light, sensors, microcontrollers, and natural processes—building new relationships between organisms, humans, and technology as one. In 2016, he exhibited at the Denfrie Gallery in Copenhagen, Denmark, and that same year, he exhibited at the Interplay Ecosystems competition. He was a finalist in the BACAA “Bandung” competition.
Artist Statement – Ricky Janitra (Babay)
I am interested in how sound, light, and electronic systems can shape living, experiential spaces—not simply as a medium of expression.
In 2017, I participated in an exhibition in South Korea entitled
"But as entities that can respond, breathe, and interact with their environment."
Through a practice based on sonic experiments, sensors, and interactive technologies, I explore the relationship between nature and machines, between organisms and data, between humans and invisible systems.
"Indonesia Cultural Exchange with Heyri Gallery and finalist and favorite work at the BACAA" Bandung Contemporary Art Award."
Many of my works involve microcontrollers, environmental sensors, living organisms, and electromagnetic phenomena as active components in an artistic ecosystem. My installations operate as dynamic systems: changing, adaptive, and sometimes unpredictable—like life itself.
I view sound not only as something to be heard, but as a way to understand presence: the presence of the body, the presence of energy fields, or the presence of living beings around us. Through my work, I strive to create a space of interaction where humans, nature, and technology can "listen" to each other, influence each other, and form a deeper shared experience.
EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE
2025
- Artjakarta “Comission work for iForte Energy” , Jakarta , Indonesia
2022
- Rux container District seni, Sarinah distrik seni – Jakarta,Indonesia.
2020
- MATTERS MATTERS, Can’s Gallery – Jakarta,Indonesia.
2019
- Wave Of Tomorrow , Jakarta- Indonesia.
– Bdua Stu Tjuan, Atiga Gallery,Jakarta – Indonesia.
- Artmoment 2019 , RuX container gallery, Jakarta - Indonesia.
– Commision Work with Arttotel Wahid Hasyim, Jakarta - Indonesia
– Bacaa Assemblage, Lawanng wangi art space,Bandung - indonesia
2018
– 100th Hendra Gunawam,Ciputra Artpreuneur, jakarta-Indonesia.
– The Aligment, Artotel Thamrin,Jakarta-Indonesia.
- Brillio ,Jakarta-Indonesia.
2017
– Finalis Bandung Contemporary Art Award, Bandung,Indonesia.
– Pekan Seni Media – At Bandar Seni Raja Ali Haji,Pekan Baru,Indonesia.
– Bagilah Terangmu – At Gudang Sarinah Eko sysstem , Komunitas SA’Ae , Indonesia.
– Pameran Gambar Cadas Indonesia – At Gallery National, Indonesia.
– HEYRI PROJECT, KOREA – INDONESIA CULTURAL EXCHANGE ,Heyri – South Korea.
– Following Exhibition , Media Art Exhibition , National Gallery , Indonesia.
– Dialogue With Senses , Korea – Indonesia Media Installation Art, Indonesia.
– Denfrie Gallery,Copenhagen,Denmark.
– Art and Fashion, APAspace,Jakarta, Indonesia.
– Me-Reklame-Kan PeLem,APAspace,Jakarta,Indonesia.