Ruangrupa on documenta 15: Lumbung as Collective Practice

As Art Basel concludes, documenta 15 opens in Kassel from June 18 to September 25, 2022, guided by the Indonesian collective ruangrupa. The quinquennial exhibition, founded in 1955, adopts the concept of "lumbung"—a communal rice barn—as a model for collective curating. Ruangrupa, an artists' and activists' collective, emphasizes that collectivity is not a response to narcissistic individualism but a necessity rooted in their upbringing. They aim to present multiple perspectives rather than a single non-European viewpoint, as noted by minister Angela Dorn. Amid the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, ruangrupa sees art's role as demonstrating alternative ways of operating institutions, fostering a more plural, attentive, and transparent art ecosystem. They adapted their plans flexibly during the pandemic, losing some qualities but gaining unforeseen ones. Lumbung is not a theme but a method; collaborators and artists are chosen for their ability to embark on this journey. Sustainability is pursued through initiatives like lumbung gallery, lumbung kiosk, lumbung publishers, student forums, recycled materials, and future iterations. The collective faced simultaneous accusations of antisemitism and Islamophobic acts.