Afterall publishes 'How to Pin Down Smoke: ruangrupa since 2000' marking collective's 25th anniversary
Afterall has released 'How to Pin Down Smoke: ruangrupa since 2000,' the fifteenth volume in its Exhibition Histories series. Co-written by Wing Chan, Charles Esche, Arianna Mercado, and David Morris, the book examines the Indonesian collective's quarter-century evolution. Ruangrupa, founded in 2000 during Indonesia's Reformasi period, is analyzed as a product of Jakarta's socio-political context. The publication avoids focusing solely on their 2022 documenta fifteen artistic directorship, instead tracing their entire history. Research involved extensive fieldwork in Jakarta, Makassar, Amsterdam, and Kassel, engaging with ruangrupa's collaborators. The book features contributions from over thirty members and observers, including a comic by chitarum and essays by Melani Budianta and Abidin Kusno. An archival section gathers 25 years of primary materials like photographs and posters. Case studies explore projects such as the 2003 exhibition 'Lekker Eten Zonder Betalen' at Cemeti Art House and the OK.Video biennial. Critical reflections come from Özge Ersoy of Asia Art Archive and Enin Supriyanto. The editorial process paralleled Afterall's own shift toward a more horizontal collective structure in 2024. Partners included Asia Art Archive, Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, University of Gothenburg, and documenta Institut. Published on September 29, 2025, the work aims to expand understanding of ruangrupa's practices in collectivity and liberation activism.
Key facts
- Book 'How to Pin Down Smoke: ruangrupa since 2000' published September 29, 2025
- Fifteenth volume in Afterall's Exhibition Histories series
- Co-written by Wing Chan, Charles Esche, Arianna Mercado, David Morris
- Examines ruangrupa's 25-year history since 2000 founding in Jakarta
- Research conducted in Jakarta, Makassar, Amsterdam, Kassel
- Features over thirty contributors including chitarum, Melani Budianta, Abidin Kusno
- Includes archival materials spanning 25 years of ruangrupa's activities
- Partners: Asia Art Archive, Center for Curatorial Studies Bard College, University of Gothenburg, documenta Institut
Entities
Artists
- Wing Chan
- Charles Esche
- Arianna Mercado
- David Morris
- ruangrupa
- chitarum
- Julia Sarisetiati
- Sari
- Melani Budianta
- Abidin Kusno
- Iswanto Hartono
- farid rakun
- Ade Darmawan
- Ronny Agustinus
- Ugeng T. Moetidjo
- David Teh
- Ardi Yunanto
- Ibrahim Soetomo
- Umi Lestari
- Mahardika Yudha
- Gesyada Siregar
- Leonhard Bartolomeus
- The Secret Agents
- Özge Ersoy
- Enin Supriyanto
- Nuraini Juliastuti
- Deirdre O'Dwyer
- Sneha Ragavan
- Anthony Yung
- Lauren Cornell
- Tom Eccles
- Mick Wilson
- Felix Vogel
- Mi You
- Bhanu Kapil
- Samanth Subramanian
- Hanan Toukan
- A. Dirk Moses
- Thanavi Chotpradit
- Brigitta Isabella
- Tram Luong
- Adeena Mey
- Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez
- Simon Soon
- Vuth Lyno
- Martin Köttering
- Sabine Boshamer
- Meike Lettau
- Özlem Canyürek
- JJ Adibrata
- Riksa Afiaty
- Reza Afisina
- Doni Ahmad
- Indra Ameng
- Mirwan Andan
- Simon Danang Anggoro
- Che Kyongfa
- Binna Choi
- Gertrude Flentge
- Patrick Flores
- Gridthiya Gaweewong
- Frederikke Hansen
- Hou Hanru
- Ken Jenie
- Agung Jenong
- Agung Kurniawan
- Veronika Kusumaryati
- Eka Putra Nggalu
- Ajeng Nurul Aini
- Nozomu Ogawa
- Philippe Pirotte
- Daniella F. Praptono
- Grace Samboh
- Ary Sendy
- Nina Siegal
- Syafiatudina
- Ade Tanesia
- Alia Swastika
- reinaart vanhoe
- Farah Wardani
- Tintin Wulia
- Carlos Quijon, Jr.
Institutions
- Afterall
- Exhibition Histories
- documenta fifteen
- lumbung
- Asia Art Archive
- Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College
- University of Gothenburg
- documenta Institut
- Cemeti Art House
- Gudang Sarinah
- Gudskul
- RURU Gallery
- OK.Video
- Karbon
- lumbung.space
- Nightboat Books
- Art Review Oxford
- OnCurating
- Grey Room
- Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art
- HFBK
- Hatje Cantz
- Routledge
- Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru
- Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, University of Gothenburg
- Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König
- Cornerhouse Publications
- ARTBOOK | D.A.P.
- MoMA
- ruangrupa
Locations
- Jakarta
- Indonesia
- Kassel
- Germany
- Makassar
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Yogyakarta
- Java
- Sulawesi
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- Americas
- New York
- Hamburg
- Berlin
- Stuttgart
- London
- Bard College
- University of Gothenburg
- Gothenburg
- Switzerland