JAKARTA – Cecilia Alemani recently announced the winner of the 10th Max Mara Art Prize for Women. Dian Suci, a talented artist from Yogyakarta, won this prestigious award. This recognition allows her to participate in a six-month residency program across Italy. Max Mara, Collezione Maramotti, and Museum MACAN created this prize to support artists in the early or middle stages of their careers.
The official announcement took place on May 7, 2026, during the opening of the 61st Venice Biennale. Cecilia Alemani led the jury and shared the news alongside Sara Piccinini and Venus Lau. Elia Maramotti also attended the event as a representative of the founding family. Consequently, this celebration highlights the growing importance of female voices in the global art scene.
Dian lives and works in Yogyakarta, where she focuses on domestic issues and state power. She uses her daily experiences as a single mother to create her powerful narratives. Her art frequently discusses political domestication, patriarchy, and capitalism. Therefore, her work offers a unique perspective on how personal life intersects with larger social systems.
Her winning proposal, titled Crafting Spirit: Cultural Dialogues in Heritage and Practice, explores the lives of craftspeople. Specifically, she studies how religious traditions meet capitalist systems. Dian views craft as a living archive of a nation’s memories. Thus, she uses her art to reflect cultural and economic evolution over time.
Luigi Maramotti, President of Max Mara Fashion Group, praised Dian’s promising project. He noted that her work connects rituals with ancient craft techniques. This project creates a continuous dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures. Because the prize values Italian craft traditions, Dian’s exploration perfectly fits the mission of the award.
Venus Lau, the Director of Museum MACAN, highlighted Dian’s unique background in architecture. Although Dian is a self-taught artist, she remains independent from traditional art institutions. She believes the Italian residency provides a vital framework for Dian to expand her artistic voice. As a result, this journey will likely transform her creative approach.
Dian expressed great excitement about her win and the chance to research in both Indonesia and Italy. Her residency begins in Assisi, where she will learn about the lifestyle of local monks. Afterward, she will travel to Rome to attend special services at St. Peter’s Basilica. She also plans to study the history of papier-mâché in Lecce before finishing her stay in Florence.
Following her time at Collezione Maramotti, Dian will prepare for a major solo exhibition. Museum MACAN will host this show in mid-2027. Later that same year, the exhibition will travel to Reggio Emilia in Italy. This timeline ensures that audiences in both Asia and Europe can experience the results of her Italian journey.
As reported by Tia Agnes Astuti of detik.com / Photo doc. Dian Suci’s Instagram