A solo theatrical protest against the organisation of the annual\nARTJOG 2026 art exhibition at the Jogja National Museum (JNM) was\nforcibly stopped by event security personnel on Friday (19\/6)\nevening.<\/p>\n
The theatrical performance took place following the opening of ARTJOG\n2026. A man dressed in black, wearing a \u2018sebo\u2019 mask, suddenly entered\nthe main entrance area of the gallery. Under the ARTJOG logo, the man\nperformed a theatrical monologue while scattering flowers, which piqued\nthe curiosity of several visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiterature is dead, art is dead. An intellectual without the passion\nfor rebellion is an extension of the state,\u201d the man declared. He then\nproduced spray paint. Security personnel stood guard nearby and reacted\nwhen three pink paint projectiles were thrown from the east, hitting the\nARTJOG plaque on the wall.<\/p>\n
After a brief moment of hesitation, security personnel swarmed the\nman and took him to a guard post for interrogation. It is alleged that\nofficers used physical force against him. He was subsequently taken to a\ntransit room to meet with the organisers and convey the purpose of his\naction.<\/p>\n
After approximately 20 minutes, the man was released. He identified\nhimself as Ayik and stated that his theatrical performance was an\nexpression of his grievances. Ayik explained that his action was a\nprotest against this year\u2019s ARTJOG, which is sponsored, among others, by\nthe Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation\u2014a foundation owned by Didit\nHediprasetyo, the only son of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt simply feels irrelevant to the current ARTJOG, especially with\nthe presence of Didit and other sponsors behind it,\u201d he said. He\nexpressed disappointment that his protest was met with repressive\nactions by security.<\/p>\n
This action was later revealed to be a collective movement by a group\nof artists calling themselves \u2018ARTJOKES\u2019. Agam Wispi, a representative\nof the group, stated that their action was purely a form of contemporary\nart. He argued that art should not be met with repression, especially\nsince their intention was to criticise the organisation of ARTJOG, which\nshould serve as a neutral space.<\/p>\n
Regarding Didit\u2019s involvement, the issue had already become a topic\nof discussion on social media. The organisers have since made several\ndecisions. Bambang \u2018Toko\u2019 Witjaksono, Head Curator of ARTJOG 2026,\nstated that based on a mutual agreement, Didit, who was originally\nscheduled to open the event at JNM 2026, will no longer attend. He noted\nthat the organisers respect the public\u2019s refusal as a form of\naspiration.<\/p>\n
Bambang recalled that the confirmation regarding Didit\u2019s cancellation\nwas only finalised on Thursday (19\/6). In his place, GKR Bendara, a\nmember of the Yogyakarta Royal Family, will officially inaugurate ARTJOG\n2026. Bambang claimed that Didit does not object to this cancellation,\nnor to the removal of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation\u2019s name from the\nlist of sponsors.<\/p>\n
Bambang also ensured that neither Didit nor his foundation has\ninterfered with the artists\u2019 works, noting that many pieces containing\ncriticism and activism are still on display. He confirmed that no\nartists have withdrawn from the exhibition due to the controversy, as\npreparations had been underway since last year.<\/p>\n
The CEO of ARTJOG, Heri Pemad, expressed understanding regarding the\ncommotion surrounding the event. He explained that the foundation\u2019s\nfocus is to support the art ecosystem based on shared visions. However,\nhe acknowledged receiving significant feedback from various art\npractitioners regarding the sponsorship.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protest-at-artjog-2026-forcibly-stopped-1781880740", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }