Report from Yogyakarta Indonesia – March 12, 2017

CAMP co-directors Megan Wilson and Christopher Statton are currently in Jogjakarta Indonesia planning the next international exchange Bangkit / Arise between San Francisco and Jogjakarta, co-curated and organized with Professor Nano Warsono, artist, curator, and professor of painting at ISI (Institut Seni Indonesia) and Professor Bambang Toko, artist, curator and professor at ISI, scheduled to take place in 2018.

Bangkit / Arise is an international collaboration and exchange between community arts organizations and artists from San Francisco USA and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The project is designed to foster discussions, understanding, and action on the critical social/political issues facing our global communities today using art as a point of departure. Subjects to be addressed include: 1) Environmentalism and the critical need for a call to action; 2) Current geopolitical divisions and how we envision a world rooted in social justice, equtiy, and collaboration; and 3) The need for radical inclusion and understanding difference as a means of strength and the goal of collectively dismantling intersectional oppression.

This collaboration is also timely given the great need at this juncture in history for understanding and dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim countries – art can provide a powerful means to facilitate such exchanges.

This past week in Yogyakarta (also Jogjakarta) Christopher and Megan:

Met up with friends and former members of the collective Apotik Komik, who co-organized with CAMP the international exchange project Sama-Sama/Together in 2003. Many thanks to Arie Dyanto, Samuel Indratma, Arya Panjalu, and Nano Warsono – great to all be together again!

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Had lunch with Farhan Syarief and Esti. In 2015 Christopher and Megan had the honor of participating in the Geneng Street Art Project #3 in Desa Geneng, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta. Christopher collaborated with Nano Warsono and Megan painted a mural on the home and businesses of the successful entrepreneurs Farhan Syarief and Esti. Farhan’s company is Olsa Digital Indonesia and Esti’s company is Yuka Fashion. Over the course of 2 months while she painted (with assistance from Christopher and Nano) the mural “Wellbeing and Livelihood For All” they became friends with Farhan and Esti and would enjoy lunch with them, their family and employees. This past week they invited Megan and Christopher back to share lunch and catch up.

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Had lunch at Kedai Kebun. The space is both a restaurant and a great art gallery. Kedai Kebun was one of the first art spaces Megan visited on her trip to Yogyakarta in 2001. During that trip she wrote a review of an exhibition at Kedai Kebun by the artist/designer Tiarma Sirait. In 2012 an artist from Bandung – Iwank – painted the portraits of many of the artists in Yogya on the walls of the space. Sadly, yet in line with the art world, pretty much everywhere across the globe – the focus was on male artists … with very few (in comparison) women artists represented.

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Checked out more street art by Rolly LoveHateLove, Anagard, and Oka Setsu and exhibitions by Putu Wirantawan at Langgeng Art Foundation and Arwin Hidayat at Kedai Kebun.

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Had dinner with our friends Rolly and Angela Lala at Kedai Kebun.

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Had lunch with friend and amazing artist Farhan Siki.  Megan and Farhan met in 2003 when Farhan assisted and worked with Megan on her mural for Sama-Sama/Together and have been collaborators over the years with each other’s projects – Megan: “Terima kasih Faran for your friendship and inspiration over the past 14 years.”

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Saw the powerful solo exhibition – “Antagonism” by Agni Saraswati at Sangkring Art Space with Farhan Siki.

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Saw another powerful exhibition at Sangkring Art – group exhibition – “Babon,” including artists Ayu Arista Murti, Caroline Rika Winata, Dona Prawita Arissuta, G. Prima Puspita Sari, Mari Indriasari, Nadiyah Tunnikmah, Roeayyah Diana “Capung,” Sari Handayani, Theresia Agustina Sitompul, Tina Wahyuningsih, Trien ‘Iien’ Afriza, Utin Rini, Wayhu ‘Adin’ Wiedyardini.

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Visited master glass painter/artist and friend Pak Subandi Giyanto with Nano Warsono and Chelsea Travisia, A & F. Great discussion on the social/political state of the world … and as always, we love seeing Pak Subandi‘s latest works. We also shared the work of the SF Poster Syndicate with him.

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Attended the opening of Saigon Unfolded – a really amazing multi-regional project that “questions cultures, nations, and boundaries” – Check out more HERE.  The event was hosted by ACE HOUSE Collectiv.