Magelang, November 22, 2025 — Amidst the cacophony of modernity’s promises, art is often trapped as a silent object, detached from daily life. Responding to this anxiety, students of the Master’s Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), staged an artistic intervention titled “Aisthesis: The Body Between Ruins and Redemption.”
The event, held at Studio Mendut, Magelang, on Saturday afternoon (11/22), was not merely a performance, but an attempt to restore art as a lived practice and a communal altar.
Curated as the midterm examination output for the Art and Religion course under the guidance of Dr. Samsul Ma’arif, M.A., this exhibition challenged visitors to do more than just “watch”. Through a performative approach, the students presented bodies grappling with historical and material ruins, offering an aesthetic that demands full sensory engagement (aisthesis).
The Body as a Site of Redemption
In its curatorial manifesto, the exhibition departs with a sharp critique of modern art, which is deemed to have failed to re-enchant
a “disappointed” world. PSPSR students reject the separation between text (writing) and body (dance), believing that the body is not merely a representation of meaning, but the source of meaning itself.
“This activity is an invitation to experience material and political knowledge, rather than simply gazing at passive beauty,” stated Gumirlang as an Aisthesis author. The works on display explore themes of the body’s connection to space, memory, and the process of redemption, seeking to reclaim the body’s sovereignty from the power structures that discipline it.
Academic and Organic Dialogue at Mendut
Selecting Studio Mendut as the performance venue is a strategic statement. This space bridges academic discourse with organic cultural practices. This alignment was reinforced by a discussion session with Sutanto Mendut, a cultural figure known for his grounded artistic approach. Sutanto offered critical reflections on the body’s relevance to the study of art and religion, enriching students’ perspectives on the creative process.
Dr. Samsul Ma’arif (Anchu) emphasized that Aisthesis was designed to strengthen students’ ability to read art as a space for the contestation of meaning. “It is a medium of dialogue between artistic and spiritual experiences, where students are expected to develop an interdisciplinary perspective,” he said.
The event was attended by the local community, students, and art practitioners, creating a fluid space of appreciation in which the boundary between ‘performer’ and ‘spectator’ was blurred to foster a communal aesthetic experience. This activity aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting experiential arts education, fostering inclusive dialogue between academic and local communities, and supporting the sustainability of community-based cultural spaces. (GM & PN)
