Indonesia with Oceania

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Since the concept of the Equator Biennale was first introduced in 2011, Jogja Biennale has tried to establish its own position as an important event in the field of global art which, until now, has been centered in Europe and the United States. In each of its editions, the Jogja Biennale has included artists from countries and regions across the imaginary line of the equator, spanning India, the Arab states, Nigeria, Brazil, to the countries of Southeast Asia. From these various locations on the planet, artists have been flown in to show their works to a small handful of art enthusiasts in Jogja. What the Jogja Biennale has been doing is no different from the existing operating logic of other international art events, which through financial might can mobilize artists from everywhere to grab the world’s attention. It could be said that the journey to embrace the equator—which initially was meant as an attempt to build solidarity across the art ecosystems in developing countries—has only turned the Jogja Biennale into a new form of centralization.

DOCKING PROGRAM

Jayapura, Maumere, Kupang, Ambon

The Docking Program presents a chain of interconnected programs in four cities and co-produced with local institution or art collective in each area respectively. Acting as the connector is the big theme of Biennale Jogja XVI Equator #6 which generally talks about the maritime culture and various socio-cultural narratives that link eastern Indonesia and Oceania. The realization of this program is also an attempt to decentralize the format of Biennale Jogja, which has always been centered in Yogyakarta.