Hetero Utopia: Mapping the Urban Terrain

Hetero Utopia: Mapping the Urban Terrain

January 19, 2007, 5:53 am
Filed under: Projects

Hetero Utopia: Mapping the Urban Terrain

When: July 2006
Where: Architecture Gallery & Soemardja Gallery, Institute Technology of Bandung, Bandung – Indonesia

This project was specially commissioned by Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development, Bandung Institute of Technology. Organized by Bandung Center for New Media Arts in conjunction with Artepolis: Creative Culture & the Making of Place.

Participants:
Platform I (Architecture Galllery – ITB)
36 Frames Photography Project participants: Bondri Cemara, Chendy Oktaviana Y., Christian Aditya, Dadang, Dedi Ruhendi, Eko Kurnianto, Imam Cahyadi, Lunalda Kanzeila, M. Aminullah, Medianna Novita, Mulana Rohimat, Oktavina Qurrota Ayun, OQ Adiredja, Pidi, Reggy, Riswan Andika, Rizki Ardianto Priramadhi, Samuel Unggul, Stevie Stephanie, Syauqi Lukman, Tatat Tresnawatie, Tifa Nurlatifa, Trias Terina, Troy, Utami Karmawan, Vijey and Yustinus Ardhitya.

Platform II (Soemardja Gallery – ITB)
Muhammad Akbar (Indonesia), Nanna Debois Buhl (Denmark), Tamar Guimares (Denmark), Klaus Ohad Said Auderer (Austria), Daniel Malone, Sriwhana Spong, Kah Bee Chow, Catherine Garet, Janet Lilo, Stella Brennan, Kirsty Cameron, Nova Paul (New Zealand), Prilla Tania (Indonesia) and ruangrupa (Indonesia). Also featuring Recurring Spaces Video Compilation (From the Displacement Project Bandung-Singapore 2006). Including works from Banung Grahita; (IKAL) Chairine Stevanny, Fitriani K.D., Annisa S., Fini Kania; Erik M. Pauhrizi; Gembi & Ageng (Pemuda Elektrik); Muhammad Reggie Aquara; OQ Adiredja; Rizaldi Fakhruddin; Tisa Granicia & Budi Adi Nugroho; and Yusuf Ismail.

Organized by Bandung Center for New Media Arts
Directed by T. Ismail Reza
Produced by R.E. Hartanto
Text by Gustaff H. Iskandar
Photograph by OQ & LUNA

Exhibition view at Platform II (Soemardja Gallery – ITB)

Hetero Utopia: Mapping the Urban Terrain exhibit some art works and projects that specifically compiled to map out the various urban space complexities in various countries. It presents video works of artists from various social & political territories in different periods, including public participatory and online projects. This exhibition also tries to portray comparative study on contemporary urban situation from various urban territories, which investigated through personal perspectives and micro-narrative approach. Most of the works are focusing on city spaces, carefully examining layers hidden beyond building walls and highways. Participating in the exhibition are artists from Indonesia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany & Austria; as well as the city inhabitants of Bandung.

Exhibition view at Platform II (Soemardja Gallery – ITB)

This exhibition also equipped by several projects specifically dedicated in conjunction with Artepolis: Creative Culture & the Making of Place. 36 Frames Photography Project involves the public in identifying the visual trajectory around Dago area, thus collectively recognizing the mental map of the participants from their own perception about Dago Street. Urban Cartography Project also involves its audience to map out spots with special meanings for the public in Bandung City as a dynamic psychogeography of Bandung from the view of its inhabitants. At the same time, an online project connecting Bandung and Manchester were being executed as a part of the Futuresonic Festival 2006 in Manchester. Through a project entitled Luncheon in the Barge Project, several people met to share stories about the experience living in Bandung and Manchester, while exploring river/canal in Manchester.

Exhibition view at Platform I (Architecture Gallery – ITB)

In general, some artworks and projects presented in the exhibition show diverse perceptions of the intertwined urban spaces, filled with flux and contradiction. A city is an in between-space where “self” and “the other” confronts, unleashing possibilities of conflicts and negotiations, and thus become a pure representation of chaos and order. Several of the presented videos also show a view of banality tendencies in the dailyscape, as well as wild imaginations, stories, relations between individuals, memories of places, including the anxieties and terrors that are often present in the urban spaces. For this reason, perhaps we could consider the urban spaces as a symbol of many utopian conflicts and enigmas.

Photo Album:

The guy next door, he’s just the neighbour by Nanna Debois Buhl (Denmark). A Collection of interview from local inhabitants in a new developed town called Trekroner in year 2003.

Recurring Spaces Video Compilation (From the Displacement Project Bandung-Singapore 2006). Including works from Banung Grahita; (IKAL) Chairine Stevanny, Fitriani K.D., Annisa S., Fini Kania; Erik M. Pauhrizi; Gembi & Ageng (Pemuda Elektrik); Muhammad Reggie Aquara; OQ Adiredja; Rizaldi Fakhruddin; Tisa Granicia & Budi Adi Nugroho; and Yusuf Ismail.

Taxi to Baghdad by Klaus Ohad Said Auderer (Austria). This work was submitted by Klaus during his visit to Bandung Center for New Media Arts in 2005, showing ruins from city of Baghdad after US attack.

Belajar Membaca (Learning to Read) by R.E. Hartanto. Part of video compilation from video workshop that was conducted by Oliver Zwink (Germany). Held during the OK VIDEO Festival 2003 by ruangrupa in Jakarta – Indonesia. This workshop were investigating urban situation in Jakarta, participated by artists from Surabaya, Bandung and Jakarta.

The Most Beautifull Places by Nanna Debois Buhl and Tamar Guimares (Denmark). Collection of interview about beautifull places from different people.

Compillation of works from New Zealand artists. Shown in the picture was Pink and White Terrace, video work from Nova Paul (left). A poetic video work about places, people and memories.

36 Frames Photography Project: Dago Street! This public participatory project involves the city inhabitant in Bandung to identify the visual trajectory around Dago area, thus collectively recognizing the mental map of the participants and their own perception about Dago Street. Partcipated by Bondri Cemara, Chendy Oktaviana Y., Christian Aditya, Dadang, Dedi Ruhendi, Eko Kurnianto, Imam Cahyadi, Lunalda Kanzeila, M. Aminullah, Medianna Novita, Mulana Rohimat, Oktavina Qurrota Ayun, OQ Adiredja, Pidi, Reggy, Riswan Andika, Rizki Ardianto Priramadhi, Samuel Unggul, Stevie Stephanie, Syauqi Lukman, Tatat Tresnawatie, Tifa Nurlatifa, Trias Terina, Troy, Utami Karmawan, Vijey and Yustinus Ardhitya. **Dago area is located in north part of Bandung. Initially, this place are supposed to be an old residential place that was built during the colonial times. Recently, Dago Street are turning into commercial area as a result from local government policies in making this place as a business district.

Urban Cartography Project. This particular project were also involves the audience to map out spots with special meanings for the public in Bandung City as a dynamic psychogeography of Bandung from the view of its inhabitants. Urban Cartography Project was actually inspired by work of Indra Ameng and Keke Tumbuan (Secret Places, 2005), that was exhibited at 347/EAT exhibition space in 2005.

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