Jakarta’s ruangrupa on the streets of Darwin

Jakarta-based arts collective ruangrupa is collaborating with artists in Australia as part of this month’s Darwin Festival.

Saleh Husein, Syaiful Ardianto and MG Pringgotono from ruangrupa and Sarah Pirrie and Simon Cooper from Darwin have collaborated on a project called Temporary Territory.

The artists have visited one another in their respective cities as part of the project and have now turned Darwin bus shelters into public art installations. The Australian Embassy Jakarta is supporting the project through its Arts and Cultural Program 2014.

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Greg Moriarty, said the temporary bus stop installations were the result of months of preparatory work involving the artists.

“The Arts and Cultural Program has been designed to nurture collaborative partnerships involving artists from both our countries so that they are successful and continue into the future,” Ambassador Moriarty said. “Over its months of development, Temporary Territory has generated meaningful professional relationships and cultural understanding between all those involved.”

Festival director Ms Edwina Lunn said Temporary Territory was inspired by an urban life experience shared by Indonesians and Australians.

“Bus shelters across Darwin have been transformed into public art installations and themed according to their location. Commuters and motorists will come across these works as they go about their daily business: I hope it is a welcome change from their day-to-day routine,” Ms Lunn said.

“I was first introduced to the people behind ruangrupa in 2012, when I was invited to Indonesia on a visit supported by the Australia International Cultural Council and the Australia Indonesia Institute. Since then, I have kept in touch and have been working closely with them and artists in Darwin to develop a joint project to be included in the Darwin Festival program,” she said.

The Darwin Festival runs for two-and-a-half weeks from 7 to 24 August. The event reflects Darwin’s unique Indigenous and multicultural population and its close proximity to Asia, while also showcasing some of Australia’s finest arts performers.

The Australian Embassy’s Arts and Cultural Program 2014 runs from March through to November and includes music, visual art exhibitions, dance, literature, textiles, sport and a science and innovation seminar series. The program also includes arts residencies and exchanges involving artists from both countries.

The Arts and Cultural Program 2014 is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian International Cultural Council, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Arts and Cultural Program 2014 is generously supported by the ANZ Bank, the Australia-Indonesia Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Curtin University, Deakin University, Ernst and Young, Flinders University, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland and the University of Tasmania.

Media Enquiries:
Vicki Miller, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 959 0304