The one-month residency programme in Yogyakarta supported by the British Council, brings PSBK and UK artist Caglar Kimyoncu together to explore creative possibilities that support Caglar’s artistic journeys and PSBK’s arts engagement platforms.

What makes us who we are (and what does that mean in our immediate environment; work, culture, relationship, country, family, region)? This is the question I would like to talk about with a variety of people.

Will I be seen as the visiting British artist, looking at Indonesian culture through a “Westerner’s” glasses?

This is an unusual concern for me, as I am a Turkish born, disabled person living in London. But of course, my identity is constantly shifting, depending on my surroundings or the company I am in. I am defined ‘in the eye of the beholder’. I would like to explore this line of thinking further – does ‘who we are’ tend to be in cohesion with our environment/culture/surroundings, or is it pushing boundaries? If I ask questions around this in English, will the answers be different from questions in Indonesian? (How) will this subject translate?

Asking the above question will form the basis for 3 parallel artistic journeys:
– The conversations initiated by it
– Improvisations with actors and performers exploring people’s answers (with the goal to have a better understanding of humans and human stories/conditions)
– A group of local artists will then respond to our conversations and improvisations (basically creating a mirror to how I exist in that culture/environment)

I use questions as a way to break away from assumptions and to have new conversations. In this case, the aim is to understand how we see/define/understand our own identity. Our answers will also provide a reflection of the references and vocabulary of the company I will be in. I would like to speak to and pose this question to many different people, and I am e.g. particularly interested in speaking to disabled people, displaced people (such as migrants or refugees), vulnerable people, campaigners and activists.

• programme

  Driven by the artist’s keen interests and research theme, his professional experience, and artistic medium; PSBK will collaborate with Caglar to connect and engage with various communities in the Yogyakarta vicinity, which includes artists, segmented and general communities. Depending on what would be appropriate to support Caglar’s artistic research and the resources available; the engaging experience can emerge in a range of different formats such as an interactive workshop to gain data from segmented communities, a performance or ‘happening’ presentation, master-class with local artists, artist-talk for the general public, and/or multi-media exhibition at PSBK. PSBK is also very keen to integrate Caglar’s experience with digital technology as a unique engaging tool in the arts.

• PSBK – Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja

  Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja (PSBK) was built and founded in 1978 by the late Bagong Kussudiardja in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and has become an important cultural landmark for its contribution to the development of artists, the art works, and social community. Continuing the founder’s spirit as an art centre, PSBK aims to contribute to the cultural enrichment of Indonesian society by shaping arts practice as an important learning resource. PSBK supports the creative development of artists and the general public to cultivate connectivity, continuity and creation of cultural values with the arts. PSBK serves as a creative laboratory, gathering place, performance and exhibition space for artists from different disciplines. PSBK presents works of emerging artists, facilitates artistic investigation and professional development, and devises programs that increase community engagement and networking with the arts.

  “I always had the desire to plant the feeling of responsibility to those who learn at the Padepokan, so that they feel the need to serve society and humanity on behalf of the arts or mediated by the arts. That’s the aim of the Padepokan. Therefore, it is not a place to mould artists.” – Bagong Kussudiardja

  PSBK supports the creative development of artists and the general public to cultivate connectivity, continuity and creation of cultural values with the arts. PSBK serves as a creative laboratory, gathering place, performance and exhibition space for artists from different disciplines. PSBK presents works of emerging artists, facilitates artistic investigation and professional development, and devises programs that increase community engagement and networking with the arts.
  http://www.psbk.or.id/

• British Council ID

  Indonesia and the UK are two hugely creative countries. Yet there is currently very little cultural exchange between them, despite there being a vast amount to gain from getting to know each other. Throughout 2016 to 2018, UK/Indonesia will start to address this through a programme of interventions.
  As a result of an open call late 2016, eight UK creatives have been chosen by the British Council and their host partners to spend one month in residence in Indonesia. This programme is a part of the British Council’s UK/Indonesia 2016-18 season, which aims to build new relationships and collaboration between the UK and Indonesia.
  Through these residencies, the partners and the British Council hopes that the residents are able to explore and connect with the vast arts and cultural scene in Indonesia. The programme also encourages residents to collaborate with their hosts and Indonesian artists to create the contemporary connection between UK and Indonesia.

  For further information and updates, please go to the British Council Indonesia website.