ROH is pleased to share images of Bagus Pandega’s solo exhibition, Daya Benda,
at Swiss Institute (SI), New York.
Bagus Pandega’s (b. 1985, Jakarta, Indonesia) work ingeniously addresses the extraction of natural resources in Indonesia—from the 16th-century spice trade in nutmeg and cloves, to the palm oil industry, to the contemporary global demand for nickel used in batteries for computers, phones, and electric vehicles.
Adopting a do-it-yourself, hacker approach, Pandega constructs modular systems using readily available, everyday technologies, natural materials such as plants and rare earth minerals, and musical instruments. These responsive installations are programmed to trigger mechanical and chemical reactions that generate sound or movement, influenced by changes in hyperlocal conditions such as human presence in the space.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Kunsthalle Basel and Director and Chief Curator Mohamed Almusibli, where the artist’s exhibition Sumber Alam is on view concurrently till 16 November 2025. The titles reference two Indonesian idioms referring to natural resources, still life, and object power.
Daya Benda is curated by Stefanie Hessler, Director of Swiss Institute. Thanks to Alison Coplan, Chief Curator, and KJ Abudu, Associate Curator, for production support.
ROH would like to thank Bea Camacho, Michelangelo and Lourdes Samson, James Amberson, Kenneth Tan, Margaret Wang, Sigit Nugroho, and Winfred Hutabarat for their support.
Bagus Pandega
Daya Benda
30 September 2025 - 4 January 2026
Swiss Institute (SI)
38 St Marks Pl,
New York, US
Photography by Daniel Pérez
Courtesy of Swiss Institute