18 Works from Baku Konek Residency Present at Jakarta Biennale 2024

JAKARTA - A total of 18 works by artists from the Baku Konek residency are being showcased at the Jakarta Biennale 2024, which takes place at Taman Ismail Marzuki from October 1 to November 15, 2024. Baku Konek 2024 is a residency program initiated by ruang rupa and the Directorate of Cultural Workforce and Institutions (PTLK) through the National Talent Management (MTN) in the Arts and Culture sector, in collaboration with various communities and art collectives across Indonesia.

During the Artist Talk session: Baku Konek held on Friday, October 4, 2024, several representative artists from different regions were present to share their experiences and perspectives regarding the program. They include artists from Sumenep, Aceh, Majalengka, Yogyakarta, and Tulungagung.

One of the artists involved in the Baku Konek program is Agustin Dwi Maharani, a representative from the Gulung Tukar Community (Tulungagung) who collaborated with the Susur Galur Community in Pontianak. She expressed her interest in this program due to the great opportunity to collaborate and build relationships with artists and cultural practitioners outside of Java. At the Jakarta Biennale, Agustin and her community are showcasing a work titled “Mengairi Sekitar, Memaknai Kehidupan.”

This work is the result of a residency in Pontianak that combines dialogue with various entities in several river village areas, such as Kampung Kuantan Laut and Kampung Banjar Serasan. Through cross-cultural research and visual arts approaches, this work highlights the crucial role of the Kapuas River as a source of life and a reflection of the social bonds and spiritual values of the communities living around it.

“We strive to position ourselves as part of the local community's life to truly feel and understand the existing social issues. This work is not just an exhibition piece, but a space to build collective awareness and examine the challenges faced by society today,” Agustin stated.

In addition to Agustin, another artist who has benefited from the Baku Konek program is Nani Nurhayati from Majalengka, West Java. She first learned about the Baku Konek residency program through social media. She was interested in participating in this program because she wanted to connect with artists and cultural practitioners from various cities and provinces.

From her residency with the Sikukeluang community in Pekanbaru, Nani raised the issue of traditional Malay-Riau healing rituals. Her findings, which include spices and audio, were crafted into a beautiful installation work titled “Tepung-Pa-Tepung.”

The success of Baku Konek 2024 is an important momentum, particularly in terms of networking, collaboration, and artistic exploration in the context of contemporary visual arts. The Baku Konek residency opens doors for young artists like Agustin and Nani to learn and share experiences with art communities throughout Indonesia.

With the diversity of participant backgrounds, Baku Konek has become a significant highlight in the Jakarta Biennale 2024, paving the way for a more inclusive and connected future for Indonesian visual arts, both nationally and internationally. The exhibited works also demonstrate the other roles of art beyond its artistic side, serving as a reflection, response, and catalyst for social, environmental, and cultural change.[*]