ARTJOG 2024 showcases an opportunity to reimagine the intersection between the past, today and tomorrow through the lens of prophecies
Arguably the best-known annual contemporary art exhibition in the city of Yogyakarta, ARTJOG returns this year with a special theme, “Motif: Ramalan.” Ramalan or prophecies is an imaginary motif that connects the past, the present and tomorrow— or conversely between tomorrow and the present and the past. As an imaginary motif, it acts like a hypothesis predicting various implications within a wide range of scientific disciplines.
“Prophecies actually means predictions, something we imagine will happen in the far or near future. And the events we imagine are—at least in our opinion as curators—actually actually the ones we have experienced,” explained guest curator Hendro Wiyanto. “We hope that this invitation to artists not only spurs them to imagine or invent, but also to imagine with vigilance and serious attention to what we are currently experiencing and the history that we are witnessing.”
In the imagination of around 84 adult, teenage and child artists participating in this year’s exhibition, prophecy becomes the predictive power driving each individual’s sense of creativity. Case in point: Agus Suwage and Titarubi presented interrelated ideas through interactive installation works featuring various dimensions and media as a representation of how humans understand prophecy.
Suwage unveils human ears to symbolize the sense of hearing, which is very “tolerant” in our noisy social space. Meanwhile, Titarubi grew various types of rice accompanied by recordings of prayers, proverbs and praise from indigenous groups representing hope for a desired future situation. Uniquely, this commission works represent how humans understand the essential concept of a prophecy. It also marks Suwage and Titarubi’s first collaborative work since their team-up for the Singapore Biennale in 2006.
All in all, ARTJOG is not just a contemporary art exhibition but also a celebration that invites entire communities to get involved. It has become a vast meeting space through numerous artistic events and activities, including ARTJOG Kids, performa•ARTJOG, Exhibition Tours, Meet the Artist, Merchandise Projects, Artcare Indonesia, Jogja Art Weeks and, most recently, Love ARTJOG.
With a theme that links the past, present, and future, this year’s exhibition reimagines diverse representations of events and aspirations for the possibilities that may arrive tomorrow.
Taking place at Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, ARTJOG 2024 will run from June 28 until September 1, 2024.