SISA: re-use, collaboration and cultural activism from Indonesia
6 November - 7 December; Opening 6 November 6-8pm
Special Events: 30 November 3:30pm onwards
UTS:Gallery, Level 4, 702 Harris Street, Ultimo
Background:
SISA: re-use, collaboration and cultural activism from Indonesia, brings together the visual culture of some key activist collectives in Indonesia.
Sisa is the Indonesian word for 'remains' or 'leftovers'. Located between folk art, design and public intervention, this exhibition finds new forms of expression in the rejection of hyper-consumption and overdevelopment.
Focusing on the issues associated with artistic output in the collaborative settings of contemporary Indonesian environmental activism, many of these artworks were not designed for display in galleries, or for an Australian audience. They include research, adaptations, documentation, and the products of ongoing collaborative projects.
The exhibition poses the question: When culture is related to specific events in local histories and ecologies, such as environmental crises, how can translation and transactions be understood in different contexts such as galleries?
In answer to this challenge, Indonesian artists emerge from the rubble of natural disasters, the wreckage of corruption, and the unrelenting hype of consumerism to create more than just hybrid objects or images, but enduring collaborative languages, energized by difference. Many of the artists themselves, as well as the materials they use are situated in a space of abjection. They are activists, and they place their work in the context of collectives and movements. Even the individual artists represented here work from a 'cast-off' position, as social sisa.
Special Events:
Public Programme: UTS Gallery-TfC Partnership
30 November, 3:30pm onwards
Venue: UTS Gallery
SISA Public Programmes: ALL WELCOME
ARTIST FLOOR TALKS
3:30-4:30pm
Join visiting artists as they present illustrated discussions about their practice
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
4:30 - 5:30pm
Facilitated discussion around the themes of Indonesian activism, art collectives and alternative contemporary Indonesian art with the exhibition curator, Alexander Crosby, artists from the exhibition, Ayok and invited discussants, Sue Ingham and Adrian Vickers. Chaired by Suzan Piper (Transforming Cultures Research Centre).
Adrian Vickers is Professor of South East Asian Studies, University of Sydney. Professor Vickers has been carrying out research on Indonesia for many years. His research areas include Indonesian history and historiography, Indonesian art, labour and globalisation in the Asia Pacific and Australia-Indonesia relations.
Sue Ingham is a PhD candidate from COFA, UNSW. Her area of research is the development of alternative contemporary Indonesian art and its relations both with Western institutions and mainstream contemporary Indonesian art.
Suzan Piper is a research associate with the Transforming Cultures Research Centre. She has been associated with Indonesia for over 30 years. Her particular interests lie with performing arts, literature and translation and Australia-Indonesia relations.
Break & Refreshments
5:30-6pm
FILM SCREENING: CANC Ways: An artist run initiative
6-6:50pm
Venue: Level 3 Lecture Theatre, Room 6322, Faculty of Design, Design and Architecture Building.
SYDNEY INDONESIAN STUDY CIRCLE (SISC)
7-8pm
Venue: Level 3 Lecture Theatre, Room 6322, Faculty of Design, Design and Architecture Building
Presentation by exhibition curator, Alexander Crosby
All events are FREE. No bookings requred.
Presented as a UTS Gallery-Transforming Cultures Partnership.
Supported by INSEARCH UTS.
Contact Transforming Cultures for more information.
