Expanding space and public, we consider the idea to best represent ruangrupa body of works in the course of ten years of its existence. During that time, we have noticed that it was also the most important period in the development of contemporary art stimulated by the acceleration of change in social, cultural and political situations in Indonesia. Not only celebrating the ten years journey of ruangrupa tha has gone through by the virtue of its whole ideas and proposition, the event is also intended to be an instrument to examine and look further into the development of our ideas as a society towards various issues in the social and cultural scope.





Through the 10 Years of ruangrupa series of events, we could collectively assess the span of idea on space and public, contributing to the formation of the contemporary cultural values. It also serves as ruangrupa�s reflective effort towards the art and culture production in society by referring to the historical and contemporary aspects. We involve as much public as we can; artists, students, community members, cross-disciplinary practitioners, as well as different art, culture, and social organizations or communities which have contributed to the discourse of contemporary art throughout the last decade. Furthermore, the events also offers a collective celebration lived up by ruangrupa and various communities in a cultural network that represents the phenomenon of art and culture involvement in social practices and other disciplines.





The event has been prepared for approximately a year, with snowballing of ideas and plans. Starting with what we already had, might and were able to do, we read recent context and planned the relevant activities. We found a lot of new discussions over our collection of archives and data. We also found and work together with a number of new students, communities, and friends with undeniable passion and talent. A number of programs were also created from the collaboration with national and foreign cultural institutions. Plans were constantly in flux and often faced with uncertainties, asking us to always be prepared to adapt, negotiate and strategize.





The 10 Years of ruangrupa event consists a series of exhibitions, collaboration projects, seminars, film screening and music festival, workshops, book publication, video and film launching, a number of artistic intervention in public spaces, as well as inter-network and inter-organizational gathering to share experience and knowledge. The programs are integrated with one another. All forms of expression are intertwined, just as culture and generation. This will be a wonderful moment to express our gratitude celebrating our fruitful friendship and collaboration throughout the years.





Thank you for your support, trust, passion and intensity ;)





ruangrupa


Jakarta, 2010