Hai Rembulan, formerly known as Bulan, found spiritual grounding after her father’s death. He had practiced Sunda Wiwitan, a religion suppressed by Indonesia’s former authoritarian government. Moon cycles now influence her significant life events.
In 2022, Bulan and friends launched Kongsi 8, a creative hub for women and gender minority artists. Initially, art sales were insufficient, prompting the expansion to include a canteen and secondhand goods.
The gathering space holds historical weight, situated where the 1998 riots tragically unfolded.These riots, fueled by economic crises and corruption, saw violence and targeted attacks, particularly against the chinese Indonesian community, including horrific accounts of mass rape. The unrest contributed to the downfall of the Soehart regime.
How does Taring Padi’s use of customary Indonesian art forms like *wayang kulit* contribute to their subversive political messaging?
radical Roots: An Indonesian Artist Collective’s Subversive Practice
The Genesis of Taring Padi: Art as Resistance
Taring Padi (meaning “Rice Spikes” in indonesian) isn’t simply an artist collective; it’s a cultural force born from the socio-political turmoil of 1990s Indonesia. Founded in Yogyakarta, a city long considered the heart of Javanese art and culture, Taring Padi emerged as a direct response to the authoritarian New Order regime and its suppression of dissent. the collective’s early work focused on supporting buruh migran (migrant workers) and farmers facing land grabs – issues deeply rooted in indonesia’s economic and political landscape. This initial focus on grassroots movements shaped their aesthetic and continues to inform their practice today.
Wayang Kulit & Propaganda: A Unique Visual Language
taring Padi’s artistic style is instantly recognizable. They masterfully blend traditional Indonesian art forms, most notably wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), with the bold, graphic aesthetic of political posters and propaganda.
Wayang Kulit Influence: The intricate, stylized figures and narratives of wayang kulit provide a rich visual vocabulary.However, Taring Padi subverts this tradition, replacing mythological heroes with portraits of activists, victims of state violence, and everyday people fighting for justice.
propaganda Aesthetics: Drawing inspiration from historical protest art, particularly Mexican muralism and Indonesian leftist posters, they employ vibrant colors, stark contrasts, and powerful imagery to convey their messages.
Materiality & Process: Crucially, Taring Padi utilizes readily available, inexpensive materials – wood, canvas, paint, and frequently enough recycled materials – reflecting their commitment to accessibility and challenging the elitism often associated with fine art. This DIY ethos is central to their identity.
Key Themes & Subversive Narratives
The collective’s work consistently tackles themes of social injustice, political repression, and economic inequality. Their art isn’t meant to be passively observed; it’s designed to provoke dialog and inspire action.
Human Rights & State Violence: A recurring motif is the documentation and denunciation of human rights abuses, particularly those perpetrated by the state. They’ve created powerful works commemorating the victims of the 1965-66 mass killings and addressing ongoing issues of police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
Land Rights & Environmental Justice: Indonesia’s history of land conflicts and environmental degradation is a central concern. Taring Padi’s art often depicts the struggles of farmers and indigenous communities against corporations and government policies that threaten their livelihoods and ecosystems.
Labor Rights & Economic Exploitation: The exploitation of Indonesian workers,both domestically and abroad,is another key theme. Their work highlights the precarious conditions faced by buruh migran and the fight for fair wages and safe working environments.
Anti-Imperialism & Neo-Colonialism: Taring Padi consistently critiques the influence of foreign powers and the legacy of colonialism in Indonesia, examining how economic and political structures continue to perpetuate inequality.
Beyond the Canvas: Public Interventions & Community Engagement
taring Padi’s practice extends far beyond gallery walls. They actively engage in public interventions, creating murals, banners, and installations in public spaces. This deliberate choice to bring art directly to the people is a core tenet of their philosophy.
Street art & Muralism: Their large-scale murals, often created in collaboration with local communities, transform urban landscapes into spaces of resistance and collective memory.
Processions & Performances: Taring Padi frequently organizes processions and performances that combine visual art, music, and theater to amplify their messages and mobilize support for social movements.
Workshops & Education: They conduct workshops and educational programs to empower communities and foster artistic expression as a tool for social change.
Case study: The “Jakarta Undercover” banner (2017)
The “Jakarta Undercover” banner, created for a 2017 exhibition in Jakarta, exemplifies Taring Padi’s subversive approach. The banner depicted a grotesque caricature of a police officer spying on a group of protesters. It sparked controversy and was ultimately removed by authorities, who deemed it offensive and a threat to public order. This incident, however, only amplified the banner’s impact, drawing attention to issues of police surveillance and the suppression of dissent. The event became a rallying point for freedom of expression advocates and solidified Taring Padi’s reputation as a provocative and uncompromising voice.
The collective’s Influence & Contemporary Relevance
Taring Padi’s influence extends beyond Indonesia. Their work has been exhibited internationally, inspiring artists and activists around the world. In a global context marked by rising authoritarianism and social unrest, their art remains powerfully relevant.
Inspiring Activist Art: Their blend of traditional aesthetics and political messaging has influenced a new generation of activist artists who are using art as a tool for social change.
Promoting Solidarity: Taring Padi’s work fosters solidarity between different social movements and communities, both within Indonesia and internationally.
* Challenging Dominant Narratives:
