Introduction to Indonesian Art Critic Sanento Yuliman's Essay on Sanggar Collectives

An article by Wulan Dirgantoro and Kiki Rizky Soetisna Putri, published on October 15, 2025, introduces an essay by Indonesian art critic Sanento Yuliman (1941-1992). Yuliman's work, originally presented on August 11, 1986, at Yogyakarta Cultural Park, examines the evolution of sanggar in Indonesia from art study spaces to artist collectives during the New Order regime (1966-1998). The essay explores whether these collectives could foster artistic practices that extend beyond individual expression by embedding them within community contexts. Yuliman's analysis highlights the social, educational, and practical functions of collectivism in shaping Indonesian art, both historically and in contemporary times. His ideas are noted as precursors to modern discussions on collectivism, such as the lumbung concept promoted by ruangrupa at documenta fifteen in 2022. The article appears in ARTMargins, Volume 14, Issue 3, pages 124-131, with a DOI of 10.1162/ARTM.a.9, and is accessible via MIT Press with full access options.