The Erasmus Huis Cultural Center in Jakarta officially opened its latest exhibition, This is not about trash (“It Is Not About Waste”), Thursday, February 5, 2026. The exhibition prepared as a part of the Co/Lab program by the Dutch Design Foundation in cooperation with Wahu (WAste HUbs) offers a fresh take a look at waste by reframing it as a continuous flow of materials in on a regular basis life. Once opened, the exhibition will probably be open to the general public from February 6 to May 2, 2026 at Erasmus Huis, Jakarta.
Before the official opening at 7:30 p.m., invited journalists were invited to a press tour at 5 p.m., during which they were shown across the exhibition and engaged in discussions with the fundamental designers and speakers. The tour allowed media participants to explore the exhibition’s immersive zones and higher understand the project’s concept: shifting the narrative from “waste” to “materials in motion.”
The exhibition explores how people eat, value and ultimately eliminate plastics. However, as a substitute of presenting waste as an end point, This is not about trash poses disposal as a call that shapes a broader system of production, consumption and social responsibility. This perspective encourages visitors to rethink on a regular basis habits and recognize that throwing something away will be the start of a brand new material life cycle.
The key element of the exhibition is the collaboration of two Indonesian designers – Ade Amelia and Dhania Yasmin – and two Dutch designers – Mayra Kapteijn and Noud Sleumer. Selected through an open call, the designers bring diverse cultural backgrounds and skilled approaches to create practical, community-based waste management solutions in Indonesia. In their work, they emphasize that waste management will not be only a technical issue, but in addition a social issue, requiring participation, awareness and collective motion.
As highlighted, the exhibition reflects the idea that changing collective considering can change behavior, reduce waste and maintain material value. The design process subsequently becomes a tool for social innovation, enabling communities to directly engage with environmental challenges and co-create solutions which are inclusive and locally relevant.
The Co/Lab initiative itself plays a key role in bringing together designers, researchers, organizations and government actors to translate complex challenges into specific design questions. By facilitating collaboration across disciplines, this system supports creative experimentation and promotes sustainable solutions to global problems resembling plastic waste and climate change.
Additionally, Wahu’s involvement demonstrates how modern systems can empower communities through circular waste management models. By integrating technology, recycling networks and financial incentives, Wahu encourages residents to actively take part in waste collection and sorting, while supporting local livelihoods.
Erasmus Huis, because the cultural center of the Netherlands in Jakarta, provides a perfect platform for such collaborative projects. Known for its commitment to inclusivity and cultural exchange, the venue continues to function a gathering space where Indonesian and Dutch artists, thinkers and communities come together to exchange ideas and encourage change.
Ultimately, This is not about trash will not be just an exhibition – it’s an invite to rethink our relationship to materials, consumption and social responsibility. By encouraging visitors to see waste as a part of an ongoing system somewhat than an final result, the exhibition challenges us to change into more conscious participants in shaping a sustainable future.
Through dialogue, design and collaboration, the exhibition highlights a robust message: waste will not be the tip of history, but the start of a brand new one.
