Foam X Ruang Mes 56 Yudha Kusuma Putera & Andri William

Foam museum welcomes the Indonesian photography collective Ruang Mes 56. The show is the last of three collaborations that’ve taken place in Foam’s 3h space upstairs throughout 2017. The initiative gives the museum the opportunity to display young artists from different cultural scenes and to research the latest developments within local photography discourses. Two artists have been selected to present their works: Yudha Kusuma Putera (Ngadirejo, 1987) and Andri William (Jakarta, 1986). Generally, the show revolves around the Indonesian tradition of gotong royong. The communal spirit’s a fundamental aspect of Indonesian culture and it can be understood as a way of working together as well as of resolving issues collectively, through reciprocal help and active participation. Throughout the last fifteen years, Ruang Mes 56 have used the practice of gotong royong to sustain the collective.

Yudha Kusuma Putera – Kumpulan Cerita Anak (Collection of Children Stories)

Yudha Kusuma Putera approaches his works involving other people in the creation process. In this way, the artist creates new meanings that highlight the mutual relationship between art and society, exploring the role of the art and/or the artist within the social context. Kumpulan Cerita Anak (2015) is a series that combines watercolour-paintings made from children with photographs of objects found in or around their houses.

Andri William – Satu Guru Satu Ilmu Jangan Saling Ganggu (One Teacher One Science Do Not Disturb One Another)

The series Satu Guru Ilmu Jangan Saling Ganggu (2016) explores the concept of mysticism and its system of belief. For the project, Andri William asked a Shaman to transfer his mystical energy to found photographs that he later sold as talismans during an exhibition. By displaying the pictures and their explanatory texts as powerful talismans, the artist aims at questioning the value system in place within our society, as well as both the economic and cultural meaning attached to the work of art.

Don’t forget to check out the Foam Talent exhibition and André Kertész’s show while you’re there.