Thursday, February 9, 2012

Discussion: Censorship in the visual arts in Indonesia


Public Discussion

Censorship in the visual arts in Indonesia after 1998:

paradoxes of a practice in a changing media landscape


Friday, 17th February 2012, 07.00 pm



Panelists:

Antariksa - cultural researcher, KUNCI Cultural Studies Center,

iCAN (Indonesian Contemporary Art Network)


Agung Kurniawan - artist, Artistic Director of Kedai Kebun Forum


Raihul Fadjri - journalist, TEMPO

Introduction and moderation: Katerina Valdivia Bruch - independent curator, Berlin


As we know, internet and social media have been used in the last years for political movements, such as the revolutionary wave of civil demonstrations in the Arab World, known as the Arab Spring or the mass demonstrations of Occupy Wall Street that started in New York last year. In fact, freedom of expression should be a common consensus in arts and media practices.

After Suharto's demise, the government weakened its banning mechanisms on arts practices. Since then, there has been a shift from a state-ruled control to a blurred practice organised by some radical groups, but also by individuals giving definitions on morality and public behaviour.Additionally, after passing the anti pornography bill in 2008, the arts scene has been affected by conservative movements that are against the pluralism and diversity of cultural expressions in the world's biggest archipelago. In this environment, media plays a major role in the audience reception of censorship matters.

The discussion will address some censorship cases in Indonesian visual arts in the Reformasi Era and reflect on current censorship (and self-censorship) practices in a changing media landscape full of contradictions.

Four different perspectives on the same topic will open a discussion with the audience. The public is invited to join the talk and participate in the discussion.

The discussion is organised by Katerina Valdivia Bruch as part of her residency at Langgeng Art Foundation.

Curatorial Residency supported by the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IfA).


Langgeng Art Foundation

Jalan Suryodiningratan 37

Yogyakarta 55141

Indonesia



Photo:

Pinkswing Park © Agus Suwage, Davy Linggar, 2005

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