Ruangrupa's Documenta 15 Draws on Indonesia's Long History of Artistic Collectivity

From June to September 25, Ruangrupa's curation of Documenta 15 in Kassel, Germany, showcases the lumbung model, which emphasizes resource-sharing among art collectives, deeply rooted in Indonesia's contemporary art history. This idea has its origins in agrarian practices such as gotong-royong and was shaped by the establishment of PERSAGI in 1938 by Sindudarsono Sudjojono and Agus Djaya, merging artistic independence with social involvement. Critic Sanento Yuliman highlighted a persistent theme in Indonesian modernism that emphasizes emotional expression. After 1965, groups like LEKRA faced repression despite their commitment to community engagement. Subsequent collectives, such as Desember Hitam, GSRB, and PIPA, upheld this tradition, while post-1998, Jatiwangi Art Factory emerged, showcasing varied approaches in Indonesian contemporary art, gaining international recognition through Documenta 15.