Yogyakarta, June 16, 2025 – The Graduate Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a sharing session with visual artist Natasha Tontey. This event comprised a segment of the Visual Arts, Design, and Media Arts Studies course, which Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari S., Ant., M.Hum., teaches. The activity took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM WIB, in Room 407 of the UGM Graduate Building.

Under the theme “World-Building through Peculiar Pleasures: Kitsch, Autophagia, and Ancestral Ghost,” Natasha Tontey invited participants to delve into her artistic practice. This practice roots itself in the imagination of alternative worlds, collective trauma, and marginalized cultural experiences. She explained that the concept of world-building in her work does not merely involve creating narrative worlds, but rather a complex symbolic and spiritual world with a system of meaning derived from local roots.

Natasha Tontey shared her creative process in developing works such as Primate Visions: Macaque Macabre and The Order of Autophagia. Through these works, she explored the relationship between trauma, ancestral heritage, and unusual visual pleasures. She employed a striking and kitsch visual approach, utilizing sharp colors, inexpensive items, and a “tacky” aesthetic. She leverages this strategy as a method to address intergenerational wounds and open a speculative interpretive space for history and identity.

According to Tontey, kitsch is not merely a sentimental aesthetic element. She transforms it into a tool for deconstructing dominant narratives and elevating the experiences of marginalized groups. Thus, kitsch functions as a strategy for cultural critique, simultaneously serving as a tool for healing and speculation for a more inclusive future.

Tontey also explained the concept of autophagia, or “self-eating,” as a metaphor for the destruction-construction process within her artistic practice. Through this approach, she explores how processes of body, identity, and culture can recreate themselves reflectively and critically. Furthermore, she presented the ancestral ghost as a symbol of collective trauma, spiritual power, and a past legacy that remains present and influences the contemporary world.

The ensuing lively discussion covered various important topics. Participants discussed strategies for constructing meaningful visual narratives, utilizing kitsch as a method of empowerment, and the role of art as a space for alternative speculation amidst ecological and socio-cultural crises.

This activity significantly contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Firstly, it supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing critical arts and culture-based learning. Secondly, by highlighting the voices of marginalized groups, this discussion aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Finally, through preserving cultural memory and local spirituality in contemporary art, the activity contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

This sharing session provided an important space for students to understand art more deeply. They learned that art is not merely a form of visual expression; instead, it acts as a medium for shaping knowledge, voicing cultural resistance, and imagining a more just and inclusive future. (IP)

 

 

 

Yogyakarta, May 8, 2025 – The Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program (PSPSR), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially opened the Re.uni(que): Menganyam Pesona, Merajut Perjumpaan. at the UGM Graduate School Building. This event brought together students, alumni, and lecturers, highlighting PSPSR’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through art and intergenerational collaboration.

Dr. Nadiyah Tunnikmah, M.A., as the curator, emphasized that the exhibition was not merely about displaying artworks, but about creating a space for dialogue and social reflection. “Each piece was selected to represent the collective journey of the PSPSR community. We want visitors to experience the meaning of encounters, collaboration, and diversity, which are the strengths of art and support the inclusivity principle of the SDGs,” Dr. Nadiyah explained.

The exhibition featured a variety of works, from paintings and installations to batik and stone carvings. Interactions between artists and visitors sparked discussions on education, equality, cultural preservation, and environmental issues. This curatorial concept aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as the involvement of students, alumni, and lecturers strengthens participatory education and lifelong learning practices.

Head of PSPSR, Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari, M.Hum., stated in her remarks, “This exhibition is a tangible form of synergy within our academic and arts community. Through intergenerational collaboration, we aim to continuously improve the quality of education and expand the social impact of PSPSR, in line with the SDGs vision.” She also highlighted the importance of feedback from alumni and guests as part of the program’s development.

After the opening, guests were invited to tour the exhibition, engage with the artists, and discuss the works on display. The warm and enthusiastic atmosphere reflected the strong network and cultural appreciation within the PSPSR community.

The Re.uni(que) exhibition proves that arts education at PSPSR UGM is not only focused on academic achievement, but also on character building, social values, and real contributions to sustainable development. (Dito)

 

On May 9, 2025, the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a sarasehan themed “Beyond the Wall of Self,” where Dr. Gabriel Roosmargo Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., reflected on his personal and professional journey, emphasizing the significance of growing together with others.

Unlike typical commemorations that focus on external tributes, Lono Simatupang deliberately chose “Beyond the Wall of Self” to highlight how his artistic and academic journey has always been shaped by encounters and collaborations. “I did not want others to merely talk about me, but rather, I wanted to share how I have grown because of and together with others,” he remarked during the event.

Lono’s journey began in his family and school environment, where he was introduced to the arts from an early age. His Batak heritage, upbringing in Java, and formative years in a predominantly Chinese school community in Yogyakarta exposed him to diverse cultural perspectives. These experiences, he explained, shaped his understanding of “the Other”-a concept central to his later academic focus in anthropology and performance studies.

Guided by his brother, Landung Simatupang, Lono entered the field of anthropology, which became the foundation for his exploration of art, culture, and performance. Throughout his career, Lono emphasized the importance of being present with students in the classroom, collaborating with research colleagues, and learning from the many people he encountered. “It is together with and because of these people that I have grown and developed in my work,” he said.

He concluded that his life’s journey-marked by cultural diversity, academic exploration, and meaningful relationships-has continually challenged him to move beyond the walls of his own self. This openness to difference, or “lian” in Javanese, has been the key to his growth as both an artist and a scholar.

The sarasehan “Beyond the Wall of Self” not only celebrated Lono Simatupang’s 36 years of dedication but also invited the PSPSR community to reflect on the value of openness, collaboration, and mutual growth. The event reinforced the importance of transcending personal boundaries to foster inclusive and sustainable cultural development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on quality education, reduced inequalities, and peace. (YMRL)

 

From January to March 2025, Riza Pradito Yuwono, a Master’s student in the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program at UGM, had the opportunity to participate in an artist residency program organized by Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Institut Français Indonésie, and Cemeti Institute for Art and Society. Here, he shares his story:

“I arrived in Paris on the 2nd day of 2025, realizing I was still in transitional mode, a combination of year-end shift, hectic packing mode, and the remaining of last year’s jet lag. I was part of an artist in residence program which co-organize by Cité Internationale des Arts, Institut Françe Indonesia, and Cemeti Institute for Art and Society.

During three months of the program, I participated in several program, from artist studio visit, institutional visits, guided tour, among others. One of the tour that quite rare, and impressed me is walking tour of the Black culture history in Paris. The route that we took followed the wind flows and/or the gentrification route towards the northeast of Paris. Through the walk led by Olivier Marboeuf, all of us were experiencing the invisible monuments of the remnants or evidence of the Black culture, which used to hold many performing activities that are now barely visible as the landscape changed and overlapped with the contemporary vision of the city.

While the city impressed me with its constant change from one arrondissement to another, being part of the Cité Internationale des Arts stimulates me with its activeness and the experimentation of the spaces. Every Wednesday, the institution organizes an open studio with 5 to 10 artists each time. On top of that, the institution also has other openings or public talks in its other five spaces. During my residency in Paris, I open my studio by having several dinners or just afternoon snacks with some friends instead of one time on Wednesday. Aside from giving more time to show to different people or audiences, it also allows me to show works in various ways within the limitation of studio space.

Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to experiment with Atelier 8003 and my studio. With Suhaib Gasmelbari, Giorgia Piffaretti, and El Sadig Kamal, we have organized Cité Cine Club to screen different types of films and videos, which we thought was a more proper situation to show moving image works. At the same time, I have the privilege of participating in an exhibition in their main gallery titled, “D’ici 60 ans: Relayer” (60 Years From Now: Relaying) curated by Ana Janevski and Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez. This exhibition open from April 2 to July 12, 2025. So if you are around Paris, please come to the exhibition.”

The PSPSR UGM Study Program strongly supports this initiative, which is also aligned with SDG No. 4 (Quality Education), No. 10 (Reduced Inequalities), No. 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (RPY-AU)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amid the holy month of Ramadan, on March 22, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM, the Study Program of Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted an iftar gathering, preceded by a discussion titled Studies on Art and Religion. The event, held in the front corridor of the PSPSR study program office, brought together the entire PSPSR academic community. The keynote speaker, Dr. G. Budi Subanar, S.J. (Romo Banar), explored the intricate relationship between art and religion from both academic and cultural perspectives.

Beyond serving as a platform for intellectual exchange, this event also marked the 65th birthday celebration of Dr. G. R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., a distinguished academic with significant contributions to the fields of arts and culture. The discussion unfolded in a warm and engaging atmosphere, accompanied by a light drizzle in the late afternoon, adding a contemplative touch to the scholarly discourse. The event was further enriched by the presence of the Head of the PSPSR Study Program, Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari, S.Ant., M.Hum., along with several other PSPSR faculty members, who actively participated in the conversation and contributed to the vibrant exchange of ideas.

More than just an academic forum, the gathering also provided an opportunity for collective prayer, fostering a sense of unity and well-being among participants. It was also a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Gabriel Roosmargo Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., in celebration of his birthday. The event concluded with a group photo session and a communal iftar, strengthening the bond within the PSPSR academic community.

All activities held during this event align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 4 (Quality Education), No. 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and No. 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). (AHP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, in Room 407, 4th floor of the Graduate School Building at Universitas Gadjah Mada, a workshop on Polonaise: Traditional Dance and Music of Poland, was held. The workshop was led by Dr. Marzanna Poplawska from the University of Warsaw as part of a collaboration with the Embassy of Poland in Indonesia. Polonaise is an intangible cultural heritage of Poland that UNESCO officially recognized in 2023. According to UNESCO, Polonaise is a lively Polish group dance performed by a few to several hundred couples in a procession, following the lead set by the first couple.

During the two-hour workshop, PSPSR UGM students not only gained insight into Polonaise but also practiced the dance. Dr. Marzanna taught students the pronunciation of Polonaise songs in Polish, the rhythmic patterns used in Polonaise music, and three distinct dance patterns. Dr. GR. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., who moderated the workshop, also highlighted the significance of paired traditional dance as a means to develop individuals’ bodily awareness and social etiquette, particularly in interacting with others (including the opposite gender) in daily life.

The PSPSR UGM program also recognizes that this workshop aligns with the goals of the SDGs, specifically SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (AU)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In December 2023, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, held a selection for a cultural internship program at the Indonesia Centre, Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS). This program aims to introduce Indonesian culture within the framework of cultural diplomacy in South Korea.

The Indonesia Centre at BUFS, inaugurated in June 2022, functions as a center for cultural diplomacy and strengthens Indonesia-South Korea relations. The internship program runs for three months, from April to June 2024, with five selected participants living in campus dormitories and interacting with local students. This allows for a deeper exchange of information and cultural introduction. One of the selected participants is Veronika Dian Anggarapeni, a student from PSPSR UGM.

During the internship, participants engage in various important activities, including:

1. Global Gathering 2024, held on May 18, 2024, at Busan Cinema Center. This festival brings together representatives from various countries through embassies and international communities. Indonesia Centre presented Indonesian culture through exhibitions of batik, angklung, wayang kulit, wayang suket, traditional dance costumes, and Indonesian culinary delights such as ‘mie ayam,’ ‘batagor,’ ‘sate ayam,’ ‘es cendol,’ and ‘es campur.’ The event attracted around 13,000 visitors, consisting of Busan residents, diplomatic mission participants, art communities, and foreign embassies.
2. Indonesian Week: This annual event is a result of collaboration between Indonesia Centre, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, and Busan University of Foreign Studies, held on the BUFS campus. Indonesian Week showcases Indonesian culture through batik exhibitions, wayang suket performances, regional dances, traditional songs, and Indonesian cuisine.
3. Singing Competition: Veronika Dian Anggarapeni served as a judge in a singing competition organized by BIPA Korea at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul. The participants were South Korean nationals studying the Indonesian language and demonstrated their singing abilities. The songs in the competition included Indonesian national songs, keroncong, and Indonesian pop. The event was lively and filled with enthusiasm. Although the participants had only recently started learning Indonesian, they were able to sing Indonesian songs with excellent pronunciation.
4. Cultural Introduction at BUFS: During the internship, the participants also introduced Indonesian culture to students at Busan University of Foreign Studies by conducting cultural classes twice a week for three months. This activity expanded knowledge and appreciation of Indonesian culture among international students.

Additionally, participants attended Korean language classes to facilitate better interaction with the local community.

This internship program serves as a cultural diplomacy effort that deepens bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea, introduces Indonesia’s rich culture, and strengthens Indonesia’s position on the global cultural stage, aligning with SDGs No. 4 (Quality Education), No. 10 (Reduced Inequality), No. 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (VDA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agim Gunawan, a student from the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has been selected as one of the participants in the 2024 Cultural Advancement Residency Program. This program is initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology through the Directorate of Cultural Personnel and Institutions Development.

The residency involves cultural practitioners from various countries such as the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, Brunei Darussalam, Ecuador, the Philippines, India, Italy, Canada, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Egypt, Poland, Thailand, Greece, and Jordan, who will collaborate with national cultural practitioners from Indonesia. There are three locations for this program focusing on Cultural Advancement Objects (OPK), namely the traditional sport Jemparingan in Yogyakarta, Losari Mask Dance in Cirebon, West Java, and Pantun Musicalization and Oral Tradition in Pekanbaru, Riau.

The Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, stated that this program is expected to expand the network and experience of cultural practitioners in Indonesia, “We also hope that it will broaden the exploration capabilities of our local artists, allowing them to establish networks as participants come from almost every continent,” he said.

This program will run for a full month in August 2024, followed by a showcase to present the results of the residency in early September 2024. “This is an opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge and skills in the traditional sport of Jemparingan, as well as to expand my network with cultural practitioners from various countries,” said Agim.

The Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program fully supports student involvement in cultural agendas as mentioned above, as it is part of the efforts to achieve SDGs 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 10 (reduced inequalities), and 17 (partnerships for the goals). (AG)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, students of the UGM’s Magister Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies conducted a field lecture on Visual Studies Theories by attending the opening of the Suluh Sumurup Art Festival 2024. The festival was held from May 14 to 22, 2024 and took place at the Yogyakarta Cultural Park. Different from last year’s event, which only involved disabled artists from the Yogyakarta region, the second Suluh Sumurup Art Festival this year presents 202 works from disabled artists from 12 provinces in Indonesia. The artists’ works are exhibited at the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta art gallery.

This year’s Suluh Sumurup Art Festival has the title “Jumangkah”, which means “to start stepping to achieve hopes and dreams”. Dr. Budi Irawanto, the lecturer of this course, is also one of the three curators of the festival together with Nano Warsono and Sukri Budi Dharma. In this field lecture, the students were given the responsibility of making notes about the visualities of the exhibited works in relation to disability. The students’ notes, which are the result of observations and interactions during the field lecture, will be discussed in the next lecture meeting.

Dra. Purwiati, the Head of the Yogyakarta Cultural Park, said that art activities like this have an impact on disabled friends to get equality and equal opportunities in their creative process. This is in line with SDGs number 10 and 17 related to reduced inequalities and partnerships for the goals. (AU)

 

 

 

 

 

UGM Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Study Program in collaboration with Jogja Disability Art (Indonesia) and DaDa Fest (United Kingdom), two organizations working in the area of disability arts, held a Mini Seminar entitled Creating Meaning and Empowering Possibilities in Disability Arts Practice: A Reflection From Dada Fest (UK) and Jogja Disability Arts (Indonesia). This seminar was held on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00 on 5th floor of the postgraduate school building UGM, guided by A. Sudjud Dartanto as moderator.

The mini seminar began with presentations from Rachel Rogers and Ngozi Ugochukwu (DaDa Fest UK) entitled Introduction to UK Disability Arts & Dada. This presentation describes the history of support and recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities in the UK which began in the 1300s and strengthened during World Wars I and II. In the mid-1980-1990s there were several activities that voiced about disability through artistic activities, political campaigns and anti-discrimination movements against disability in 1995. It was these movements that led to the founding of DaDa, which did so through the Arts Integrated Merseyside in 1984 and the North West Disability Arts Forum in 1986, which later became social models of disability. Currently DaDa is based in Liverpool and moves internationally. The DaDa movement seeks to effect social change. In art activities, DaDa also encourages activities through artist commissions, performances and exhibition opportunities and conducts training and mentoring. DaDaFest International is also routinely held as a safe space that can be used for discussion and sharing experiences, sharing messages for social justice, networking nationally and internationally.

The next opportunity was given to Triarani Utami and Nano Warsono from Jogja Disability Arts who delivered a presentation entitled Understanding The Spectrum of Meaning in Disability Arts Collaborations. They describe the history of Indonesia, which is divided into colonial, new order and reform periods and their social relevance to persons with disabilities. Then the trigger factors for discrimination that arise individually, attitudinally and environmentally. Based on this, Jogja Disability Arts was established, namely to voice the concerns of people with disabilities through artworks that are considered culturally close, easily accepted by the community and able to dismiss negative stereotypes about disabilities. There are various art programs conducted by Jogja Disability Arts such as collaboration between disabled and non-disabled artists, exhibitions, and art activities as an effort for communication and socialization.

The next speaker was Budi Irawanto from UGM Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Study Program who delivered a presentation entitled Disability Arts, collaboration, and Ethical Issue. This presentation explained the relationship between art and disability, the definition of Disability Arts, understanding the context of collaboration, considering the Ethics of care, various problems that arise and reflections on the activities of disability arts carried out. And the final session, namely the question session, where the moderator leads the discussion process to facilitate questions that arise from the material presented by the speaker this afternoon.

This collaboration reflects the orientation of the study program in relation to SDGs 10 and 17 on reduced inequalities and partnerships for the goals. (SHW)