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For 10 years, the art collective known as Ruangrupa, or “Visual Space,” has been an active and primal force behind Indonesia’s thriving art scene. From playing curator to exhibitions of lesser-known artists in their venue to running workshops, concerts and festivals, Ruangrupa has been instrumental in keeping the local art scene alive by introducing it to hip, young audiences. Many of its members are also prominent figures in the local independent music scene.

Since December, this non-profit organization has been running special programs under the theme “Expanding the Space and Public,” to commemorate their 10-year anniversary.

The celebratory programs include a variety of workshops, art exhibitions, bazaars, music festivals, seminars and book launches.

They are also screening 71 classic Indonesian films, such as “Djakarta 1966” (1982), “Si Doel Anak Modern” (1977), “Warkop DKI” (“Gengsi Dong”) (1980), and “Kuldesak” (1997).

There will also be a screening of 28 artistically-notable music videos, dating from the mid-1990s until today, most of which come from independent acts.

Some of these bands will perform during the event’s music festival scheduled for Jan. 8-9 at the National Gallery of Indonesia.

Scheduled events are taking place, not only in Jakarta, but in Bandung and Yogyakarta as well.

It is supported by 13 art and culture institutions in Indonesia, and 11 international nongovernmental organizations and universities.

The programs will run until Jan. 27 and include the works of a variety of both local and international artists.

These include Indonesian mainstays Angki Purbandono, Henry Foundation, Indra Ameng and Irwan Ahmett. International artists whose works will be on display include Sebastian Diaz Morales from Argentina, Reinaart Vanhoe from Belgium, Marco Paulo Rolla from Brazil, Arjan van Helmond from the Netherlands, Tomoko Take from Japan and many others.

Ruangrupa was formed by students and alumni of two prominent art institutes in the country; the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ) and the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta.

Though it has always been a strongly collaborative group, most of its members agree that Ruangrupa was primarily spearheaded by Ade Dharmawan from ISI.

Along with a few of his friends, Ade formed Ruangrupa after returning from a two-year residency at Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten, the state academy of fine arts in Amsterdam.

In an interview with Dutch art Web site TransArtists, Ade explains that his idea for Ruangrupa was triggered by the rise of artist initiatives focused on promoting deserving artists who lacked recognition.

“There are many works, artists and art organizations that are clearly more ‘esteemed’ out there (but) in the last 10 years, so much has changed in the world art scene; many interesting and important artists and organizations or groups with art events are emerging that do not come from the ‘center’ of art’s development.”

An official for the anniversary event, Sari Julia, explained that over the span of 10 years, Ruangrupa has always tried to make their activities and projects relevant to the country’s current social issues, as well as economics, politics and cultural dynamics.

“This is based on the fact that artists can no longer passively isolate themselves from other fields of knowledge and social practices at the community and state level,” Sari said.

According to Sari, Ruangrupa always tries to broaden its reach by utilizing newer forms of media to create and exhibit their art.

There is also the awareness of creating pieces of art that reflect modern society’s reliance on technology.

“Recent developments in the world of contemporary art show a major emphasis on the role of technology and its application in urban communities throughout Indonesia.

This has supplied Ruangrupa with new strategies to establish our continuing focus on the practices of new media and video, and on various forms of artistic, cultural and social expression,” Sari says.

Their awareness technology’s effects on both art and society is one of the reasons why Ruangrupa seems to connect with younger audiences.

Some of those technologically-aware projects include the “OK Video Festival,” held biannually since 2003, which exhibits video art by Ruangrupa artists.

Anggun Priambodo, a prominent member of Ruangrupa, sums it up by saying that Ruangrupa is fighting the good fight against the dullness of the mainstream media.

“We’re trying to balance out all the inconsequential information being thrown out into the public by the mainstream media.”

Here are some selected events from Ruangrupa’s 10th anniversary program. For a more complete schedule, visit Ruangrupa.org


RRREC Music Fest & Bazaar
Featuring indie acts including The Wispy, Zeke Khaseli, Hightime Rebellion, and White Shoes & The Couples Company
Galeri Nasional Indonesia
Jan. 8-9, 4:30 p.m.

Exhibitions 
Ruru and Friends’
Galeri Nasional Indonesia and public spaces around Jakarta
Until Jan. 12

RURU.zip
Curators: Farah Wardhani and Ugeng T. Moetidjo, in cooperation with IVAA (Indonesian Visual Arts Archive) 
Galeri Nasional Indonesia
Until Jan. 12 

Ruru.net
Curators: Reza ‘Asung’ Afisina and Iswanto Hartono 
Galeri Nasional Indonesia
Until Jan. 12

Multimedia Arts in Indonesia
Curator: Hendro Wiyanto
Galeri Cipta II & III, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Jan. 7-27
 
Seminars
Culture and Digital Society
Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Jan. 10, 1 p.m.
Speakers:
Hikmat Budiman, Nuraini Juliastuti, Hafiz
Citizen, Art Practice and City Space
Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Jan. 11, 1 p.m.
Speakers : Ibe Karyanto, Ardi Yunanto, JJ Rizal, F. Budi Hardiman

Art and Activism
Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Jan. 13, 1 p.m.
Speakers : Hilmar Farid, Moelyono, Tisna Sanjaya, Reza Afisina