The opening of the Re.uni(que): Weaving Charms, Knitting Encounters exhibition and Syawalan Seni on Thursday, 8 May 2025, at the UGM Graduate School Building, highlighted the active role of students from the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program (PSPSR), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This event was part of the 34th anniversary of PSPSR and the commemoration of Dr. Gabriel Roosmargo Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A.’s 36 years of academic dedication.

PSPSR students from both master’s and doctoral levels were intensively involved in the preparation and execution of the event. In the week leading up to the opening, students worked together as committee members, taking responsibility for exhibition layout, artwork installation, logistics, guest management, and documentation. This collaboration strengthened student solidarity and provided valuable experience in art event management.

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The Performing Enchantment event on May 9, 2025, at Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM became a vibrant stage for celebrating Indonesia’s cultural diversity. an event held by the Graduate Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) UGM, the event showcased the rich traditions of various regions, uniting different identities in a night full of harmony.

From the outset, the audience was greeted by the grandeur of Reog Ponorogo, an energetic cultural icon from East Java. The atmosphere then shifted to a solemn mood during the Batak thanksgiving ritual, Manjalo Tuani Gondang, performed meaningfully by Dr. Lono Simatupang and his family. This Batak tradition, rich in family values and gratitude, demonstrated how performing arts can bridge cultures.

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On May 9, 2025, the Graduate Program in Performing and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held Performing Enchantment at the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM, presenting a rich evening of diverse expressions in the performing arts.

From the outset, the spatial arrangement stood out. Instead of using the conventional stage, the performance area was placed in front of it, giving performers the freedom to move and create dynamic floor patterns. The Reog Ponorogo musicians were positioned beneath the left-side stands, near the entrance and the audience, producing a surround sound effect that felt immersive and immediate.

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On May 9, 2025, the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) showcased the power of artistic collaboration at the Performing Enchantment event, held at the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM. The event was the culmination of a series of celebrations marking 36 years of Lono Simatupang’s academic contributions and 34 years of the PSPSR Program at UGM.

The event’s core was its seamless collaboration among artists, academics, alumni, students, and families. The opening Reog Ponorogo performance set the tone, bringing together local Reog artists and PSPSR’s creative team to blend tradition with fresh artistic direction.

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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.

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On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, students from the Department of Performance Arts and Visual Arts Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) visited Goenawan Mohamad’s 18th solo exhibition as part of a field study for the Art Criticism course taught by Prof. Drs. Martinus Dwi Marianto, MFA, Ph.D. The exhibition is held at the Srisasanti Gallery, Tirtodipuran Link Building B, Yogyakarta, from February 22 to April 20, 2025. It showcases 59 works of visual art, consisting of 19 paintings, 25 drawings, 11 gum oil prints, three etchings, and one installation object, most of which were created between 2017 and 2025.

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On February 12, 2025, the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized the launch and discussion of the book titled Vitality of Gringsing Weaving in Bali. The event took place at the auditorium of the UGM Graduate School and was attended by academics, practitioners, and students. In addition to the in-person gathering, the event was also streamed live on YouTube to reach a broader audience. The book was authored by Prof. Drg. Etty Indriati, Ph.D., a dentist and forensic expert with a profound interest in anthropology. As a keynote speaker, Dr. Gabriel Roosmargo Lono Lastoro Simatupang, MA, a lecturer in the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program (PSPSR) at UGM, provided an in-depth review of the book.

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On August 17th 2024, PSPSR UGM held a community service at Kenteng, Morobangun, Prambanan, Sleman. One of the programs was the Sasirangan Workshop. Sasirangan is a traditional technique of textile manipulation that uses drawstring and color dye to create patterns. Sasirangan production is a meticulous process involving several steps. Initially, the textile is cleaned with detergent before undergoing a mordanting process using ash and potassium alum, followed by careful drying away from direct sunlight. Once prepared, intricate designs are sketched onto the fabric and then stitched by hand. The textile is subsequently gathered by pulling the string tightly before being immersed in dye and then a mordant solution to set the color. This dyeing and fixing process is typically repeated two or three times to achieve the desired color intensity and durability.

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