Ruangrupa's 25th anniversary exhibition ruru25 in Jakarta showcases collective art practices amid political shifts
In October 2025, the Jakarta International Expo will host the ruru25: Poros Lumbung exhibition, marking 25 years of the artist collective ruangrupa. This event showcases 48 projects that integrate art with social activism, standing in contrast to the commercial Art Jakarta fair and highlighting the varied art landscapes of Jakarta. Established during Indonesia's reformasi post-Suharto era (1966–98), ruangrupa has emerged as a global exemplar of nonhierarchical artistic practices. The exhibition features partnerships with Sixpack and Grafis Huru Hara, alongside Taring Padi’s significant painting on land rights. Ruangrupa’s Kuda project delves into punk connections to 1970s protests, while Siasat 2.0 revises their manifesto, all occurring amid the conservatism of President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office in October 2024.
Key facts
- ruru25: Poros Lumbung is a 25th anniversary exhibition for ruangrupa held at Jakarta International Expo in October 2025
- The exhibition features 48 projects, including seven by ruangrupa and others by collaborators like Sixpack and Grafis Huru Hara
- Ruangrupa was formed during Indonesia's reformasi period after the fall of Suharto's New Order Regime (1966–98)
- Art Jakarta, a flagship art fair with 75 galleries from 16 countries, occurred simultaneously nearby
- Taring Padi displayed a monumental painting made with Brazil's Casa do Povo and MST, addressing land reclamation
- The installation Siasat 2.0 includes banners and a booklet updating ruangrupa's 2011 manifesto
- President Prabowo Subianto took office in October 2024, with Culture Minister Fadli Zon designating 17 October as National Culture Day
- Museum MACAN, founded by collector Haryanto Adikoesoemo, is Jakarta's only contemporary art museum
Entities
Artists
- ruangrupa
- Grafis Huru Hara
- Serrum
- Taring Padi
- Jeff Koons
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Gerhard Richter
- Andy Warhol
- Yayoi Kusama
- Haryanto Adikoesoemo
- Fadli Zon
- Prabowo Subianto
- Suharto
- Jair Bolsonaro
Institutions
- Art Jakarta
- Jakarta International Expo
- OK. Video
- RURUradio
- Gudskul
- Casa do Povo
- Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais SemTerra
- Museum MACAN
- ArtReview Asia
- Documenta 15
- Sixpack
Locations
- Jakarta
- Indonesia
- Lembata Island
- East Nusa Tenggara
- South Jakarta
- Yogyakarta
- Brazil
- Amazon
- Singapore
- Hong Kong