On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, a field study program was conducted by the Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Criticism course, mentored by Dr. Suwarno Wisetrotomo. The activity took place at the Jogja Art+Books Festival 2025 (JABFEST), located at The Ratan, Jalan Ringroad Selatan No. 93, Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul, Yogyakarta. This year, JABFEST adopted the theme “Kereta Api yang Berangkat Pagi Hari: 82 Tahun Kuntowijoyo” (The Train Departing in the Morning: 82 Years of Kuntowijoyo). The festival featured various programs, including art exhibitions, book discussions, artist talks, a book bazaar, and other related events.
During this visit, students from the Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Criticism course of the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada, observed the art exhibition at The Ratan gallery. The exhibition showcased works by renowned artists such as Nasirun, Enka Komariah, Pupuk Daru Purnomo, Wedhar Riyadi, and others. Class participants critically analyzed the artworks from diverse perspectives, consistent with their individual academic backgrounds. The observation also encompassed how each artwork responded to the theme “Kereta Api yang Berangkat Pagi Hari: 82 Tahun Kuntowijoyo,” as well as the implications of a literary archaeology approach in contemporary art that informed the artists’ creative processes.
Subsequently, following the observation in the exhibition space, the students and Dr. Suwarno Wisetrotomo continued the activity with a discussion session involving artist Pupuk Daru Purnomo. This discussion focused on the artist’s creative process in producing his work, particularly in the context of Pupuk Daru Purnomo’s pieces that were recreated with considerations of different spaces and times of execution. One of the exhibited works, for instance, featured a sketch reproduced years after the artist had returned from the original location. Pupuk Daru Purnomo explained, “There are memories that linger and are quite impactful, when I draw about a specific location or moment I experienced. Even though redrawing it feels different, the memory I felt remains the same.”
Dr. Suwarno Wisetrotomo also elucidated Pupuk Daru Purnomo’s artistic journey, emphasizing that changes or differences in an artist’s creative process are natural. He highlighted that the creative process can continue to be internalized and expressed in artworks, regardless of material differences. Nevertheless, the unique characteristics of each artist remain the essence that strengthens the identity of their work.
This field study significantly contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Firstly, it supports SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing innovative out-of-classroom learning experiences that enrich students’ understanding through direct interaction with artworks and professional artists. Secondly, it indirectly contributes to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by supporting the art ecosystem and creative economy, which promotes decent work for artists and economic growth. Finally, this activity aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, as it enriches the cultural life of the city and promotes cultural inclusion and identity through art. (IP)
