On November 27 and 28, 2015 (which is last month), I had the opportunity to attend a workshop carried out by Kelola foundation which was held at Rumata' Art Space. This activity was attended by artist domiliated in city of Makassar which comes from various artistry backgrounds. Not only from visual artist, there were also another type of art that they do, which are performing arts, movies, music, literature, and festival.
This opportunity itself was a coincidence for me. Previously, I was invited by e-mail by team of Kelola foundation based on the recommendation from an awesome guy I've just barely known like a month ago. First, I was not sure to come by because I'm kinda having some lack of self-confidence issue. But then after some consideration, like this activity is not open for public (I could say myself a chosen one) and then a friend of mine convinced me that it was a pretty good start, I decided to just go ahead eventhough I really have no idea who is coming. I even got there all by myself.
Along with the invitation sent by e-mail, there were a number of files contains the form of identity that will be filled by participant with two core questions:
What social problems you want to put as target?
What artistic intervention (works of art) that you want to do in dealing with these problems?
The questions are quiet simple. But on the other side, it somehow loses my appetite. I'm gonna tell you next time about my own ideas because I had no chance to explain to them. Or maybe I had, but I chickened out.
So, talking about Kelola foundation (www.kelola.or.id), this foundation is a nonprofit organization working in the field of art and culture. Both fields becomes their major focus with the hope that they can develop the arts in Indonesia so it can continue the living and be highly competitive in around the globe. Kelola has opened learning opportunities for over 3.500 artists from Indonesia through their program which is a cooperation with some international institutions.
Kelola foundation as a group is aware of the huge potential in the arts in Eastern Indonesia. But on the other hand, the region also experienced some complex social problems. Therefore, the output that they expect can be contained from this activity is a diclosure of explanation for some of the following questions:
Why the Eastern Indonesia region is very prone to conflict and violence?
What is the source or the core of all those problems?
Where is the position of the culture in this matter?
Does art have the potential to take role as a mediator, or even the originator of reconciliation in society?
With theme "Art for Peace and Reconciliation", the workshop that was held for two days was opened by Niwan A. Arsuka by giving a little introduction about the social issues that are currently happening around us with the ideas of reconciliation that can possibly be done. The first day was filled by sharing about the power of art in the public space. And then the second day continued with the technique of proposal writing related to the art project that has been discussed on the previous day and more detailed explanation about the series of activities of the project.
The social problems that are described based on the experience of each artists or any issues that interest them. Two of the problems are begal and motorcycle gang that once become a hot issue in past several months. These social problems was pointed out by one of the participant to be discussed together so then anyone could come up with the idea of artistic intervention that can be done afterwards. Sure, there are so many people who feel anxious by the presence of those motorcycle gang. We also discussed what is the thing that can be a trigger of their nonsense-appearance. Some of the answers are: they are in the searching for existence or self identity, the exaggerated energy surplus of the members of motorcycle gang that mostly are teenagers, lack of supervision of their closest people, and how those issue is closely related to media nowadays.
Not only motorcycle gang issue, the other participants also shared their story which they experienced and felt by themselves. Like the story of one of other participants; he told about how the art—indirectly—made the brash behaviour of students in Labuan Bajo become devastated. He told that the students are given a special room in their school to express their feelings in their souls that has been overwhelmed for so long. Another participant also told their awareness about the issue of refugees, which comes with various factor such as war, natural disaster, and discrimination.
And then, how artistic intervention (works of art) can be done in dealing with these problems? These question then becomes a trigger in where the social conflicts becomes its target.
A simple example, for instance; Music. Through the music, several artists are voicing the call for peace. Music is used as a tool to touch the sense of humanity, universally. Probably, we are all familiar with songs like Imagine by John Lennon, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, or We Will Not Go Down (Song For Gaza) by Michael Heart.
The first thing that pops into mind is the attempts to divert activities that can be trigger of conflict through art activities. This discussion subsequently gave birth to new ideas that are developing the basic ideas of one participant. A few of them are the idea of an exhibition of making sculpture in public space, involving motorcycle gang members, with the hope to turn their negative activities into something productive. The next idea is performing arts, with a concept of helping refugees to express and describe their problems. In addition, this performing arts is expected to educate public so they can understand the problems of refugees. The next ideas are to make a colossal theater, musical stage, and so on—which we expect can resolve the social problems around us.
The idea of each artists that have been processed together will then be chosen to be accomplished based on proposals which will be submitted on the next time.
Of course, we hope that it doesn't stop at just the tip of implementation. However, there are processes that bring learning to the individual and the society. As well as the impact and impression that left after the art projects carried out.
*this article is written to be published on Ruang Antara, with a little addition.