Biennale Jogja XV Equator Challenges Regional Representation with 52 Southeast Asian Artists

The Biennale Jogja XV Equator, themed 'Do we live in the same playground?', took place in Yogyakarta from 20 October to 30 November 2020. Curated by Akiq AW, Arham Rahman, and Penwadee Nophaket Manont, the event showcased 52 artists from Southeast Asia, who explored the region's geopolitical dynamics and internal margins. Highlighted works included Citra Sasmita's 'Timur Merah Project' (2019), Yosep Arizal's 'Tanggalan Barohihiwiyah' (2019), and Moelyono's homage to labor activist Marsinah (1993–2019). The biennale underscored the idea of artistic practice as a form of research, featuring contributions from Gan Siong King and Roslisham Ismail, while the Residensi Kelana program aided artists in investigating community rituals. Kathleen Ditzig's piece in ArtReview Asia described the biennale as a bold reimagining of its format.