Joint exhibition by HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL and ITS students opens in Jakarta

Baba Yaga in shades of pink, spirits from the Indonesian islands, and a fresh take on familiar films: Pamerupa: HSE × ITS 2026 has opened at the Russian House in Jakarta. The exhibition brings together 40 posters and illustrations by students of HSE ART AND DESIGNS SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS, Surabaya, Indonesia). Visitors can discover how young designers reinterpret each other’s cultures through November 8.

The works on display were created for two joint competitions: Art of Reframe (2025), an alternative film poster competition, and Reimagined Myths (2026), an illustration competition. The first invited participants to offer their own interpretations of Russian and Indonesian films; the second explored the myths and legends of both cultures.

Characters from Indonesian mythology featured in Reimagined Myths include Kuyang, a flying female head; Rangda, the queen of witches; the tiny Jenglot; and Nyi Roro Kidul, Queen of the Southern Sea. Representing Slavic folklore are Sirin, a bird of paradise, alongside Kikimora, Domovoy, and Baba Yaga.

As they explored the myths, students noticed that many Indonesian characters are closely tied to particular regions and found numerous parallels with Slavic folklore. Their visual approaches varied widely, from Baba Yaga in shades of pink to works inspired by classic book illustration.

«In the 2026 competition, participants brought Russian and Indonesian mythology into their illustrations. Myths and legends hold the values, imagination, and worldview of a people, and turning them into images takes research, cultural sensitivity, and the courage to reinterpret,» said Mitya Kharshak, Dean of HSE ART AND DESIGN in Saint Petersburg.

According to Ellya Zulaikha, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business at ITS, working with mythology encourages participants to look beyond the depiction of individual characters:

«When Indonesian and Russian students are invited to interpret these stories through illustration, they are not merely drawing characters and events; they are translating their cultural perspectives, values, and imaginations into a visual language. That is where visual communication design truly operates at its core: bridging meaning across languages and borders.»

The exhibition opened on October 31. Speakers at the ceremony included Nikita Shilikov, Director of the Russian House in Jakarta, and Vladimir Khrisanfov, Counselor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Indonesia. Valeria Sharova, Coordinator of Educational and Research Programs at the Russian House, also took part.

HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL was represented by Ivanna Lomakina, Deputy Dean for International Relations; Samira Akhmedova, International Relations Specialist; and Yury Shtapakov, Art Practice lecturer and member of the Union of Artists of Russia. The ITS delegation included Associate Professor Ellya Zulaikha, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business; Associate Professor Unggul Wasiwitono, Director of ITS Global Engagement; Rahmatsyam Lakoro, Head of the Department of Visual Communication Design; and Naufan Noordyanto, a lecturer in the department. The ceremony concluded with Ellya Zulaikha and Samira Akhmedova exchanging certificates for the competition winners.

As part of the opening program, Yury Shtapakov led a printmaking workshop. Using ink, a roller, and an engraved printing plate, participants created prints to take home. The following day, ITS organized workshops on poster design and digital illustration.

The partnership between HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL and ITS began when Mitya Kharshak and Ksenia Malich took part in Creabiz International Week at ITS. A year later, the two institutions held their first joint competition, Art of Reframe. Russian students created alternative posters for Indonesian films, while Indonesian students reinterpreted classics of Russian cinema. The Indonesian selection featured so many horror films that the competition is still informally known at the School as «the horror competition.» It received more than 350 entries.

An exhibition of the competition entries was held in Saint Petersburg during International Partners Week 2025, with ITS winner Nisa Hanifa attending the opening. Later, HSE winner Polina Dubich and her mentor, Ekaterina Filipenko, made a return visit to Creabiz. It was during this trip that the idea for Reimagined Myths emerged.

«International collaboration is far more than just exchanging names and signing agreements — it is a genuine encounter between students, faculty members, and ideas. This exhibition is a prime example,» said Bambang Pramujati, Rector of ITS.
 

HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL thanks the Russian House in Jakarta, Nikita Shilikov, and Valeria Sharova for supporting the partnership and making it possible to present students’ work to the Indonesian public. Special thanks go to Svyatoslav Kvartalnov, Director for Representative Offices at HSE University in Saint Petersburg, for his help in organizing the exhibition.