Christi Mahatma Wardhani, Yogya – The ARTJOKES Art Coalition is demanding an apology from the ARTJOG management following the repression of a solo protest action at the opening of ARTJOG 2026 at the Yogyakarta National Museum on Friday evening June 19.
The theatrical action held by one of the ARTJOKES Art Coalition members was a protest against the involvement of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation (DHF) – run by President Prabowo Subianto's son Didit Hediprasetyo – as a sponsor of the annual art exhibition.
ARTJOKES Coalition member Wispi said that this critical art activity had been established for a long time and mobilised in many spaces. This action was one way for artists to respond to ARTJOG, a prestigious arts activity involved in the big political agenda of the country.
"Firstly, we are clearly waiting for good faith from the ARTJOG management. Is there an initiative for an apology through the institution, the founder, managerial, we are waiting for ARTJOG. ARJOKES is part of the awareness of the arts community, that this should not be like this", he said in a press conference on Saturday June 20.
"The Didit Foundation's involvement is actually something absurd. If ARTJOG is a space for democratic expression for arts and culture, it doesn't involve these things. Is ARTJOG turning a deaf ear to the political incidents that are taking place? So that is our starting point", he continued.
He also regretted the repressive actions experienced by the artist. Moreover it was actually carried out in a public space. On that occasion, he also expressed hope that there would be openness from the parties involved.
Another member of the ARTJOKES Coalition, Lorca, explained that the anger from the arts community arose not just because of the figures present, but because of the practice of art-washing. Through the practice of art-washing, artists can be trapped in the control of power.
"ARTJOKES as a counter discourse is actually our biggest hope to help our friends return to the meaning of the art that we should hold on to today, when our socio-political situation is like this. When art has been co-opted, so the social reality conveyed in the work of art has no meaning anymore", he explained.
He [does not] believe in celebrating art in a prestigious way. Because that will definitely lead to art-washing. According to Lorca, art cannot be co-opted by the regime's interests. He believes that art is a practice of fighting against oppression.
"Therefore, when we look at the current practices carried out by the ARJOG [organisers], this not only hurts but insults art which is part of the struggle of artists who use the medium to articulate their expressions, views of current social reality", he added.
Protest action
The solo performance by a theatre artist named Ayik at the entrance to ARTJOG 2026 at the Jogja National Museum (JNM) attracted the attention of visitors.
This action was carried out as a protest against the involvement of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation as a sponsor of the annual art exhibition.
According to Tribun Jogja monitoring at the location, the Friday protest took place at around 6.20 pm. In his appearance, Ayik wore all black clothing and a head covering.
Ayik walked around the main entrance area of ARTJOG while scattering flowers and shouting. "Literature is dead. Art is dead. Intellectuals without passion", he shouted as he scattered flowers on the ground.
Not long after, Ayik took out a marker pen from under his clothes and wrote something on a piece of white paper that said "Art".
Shortly after that, the sound of three impacts were heard from behind and towards the main wall of the ARTJOG entrance. Pink paint appeared on and smeared across the wall.
Not long after the incident, Ayik was detained by security officers and taken to the security post.
Before arriving at the security post, there was an argument and pushing and shoving between the security officers and the artist.
Following this, Ayik, who was accompanied by several colleagues, met with the ARTJOG organising committee.
After the meeting, Ayik claimed that he had received several blows when he was taken to the security post. "Maybe during the stage performance, at the end when I was arrested, I was struck several times", he said.
He explained that the solo theatre performance was carried out because of his concern about the presence of DHF as sponsor of ARTJOG 2026.
"Yes, personally I'm certainly worried and it's not relevant to ARTJOG now. Moreover, there is Didit and others as, sponsors behind it", he told journalists.
Flower and paint symbols
When asked about the form of the performance, Ayik said he wanted to express this anxiety through the symbols used in his action, including flowers.
"Yeah, as witnessed by friends earlier, indeed. With flowers and also paint and paper to express the things I said I was worried about earlier. So the flowers seem like, yeah, indeed art is dead", he explained.
Agam Wispi from the ARTJOKE Collective said that art performances or exhibitions should accommodate freedom of expression in an artistic context.
"This should not be answered with violence or statements that make the other party feel intimidated."
He also said that the theatrical performance was worth showing.
"Moreover talking about the contemporary art scene, it should be allowed. However, the response from security was excessive. Hitting, cursing, dragging, that is what was regrettable", he explained.
According to Wispi, if the theatrical action had been left alone, it would not have had an impact on the ongoing art exhibition.
He also said that the artists were only trying to express their understanding of ARTJOG as a space that should be neutral, without being occupied by certain interests.
"We're just expressing what we understand and the aftermath of yesterday's problem when ARTJOG was sponsored by Didit. There it is very clear, if you dig deeper, it is clear who Didit is. It's clear that the Indonesian people know, (Didit) is Prabowo's son, who is Prabowo, what specifically, who is he. So there are many things that have not been resolved related to this. But, why is ARTJOG willing to allow a space that should be neutral to be filled by people like that?", he asked.
Soal sponsor
ARTJOG 2026 program director Gading Paksi said that they have spoken with the artist who performed the solo performance.
"Earlier I spoke with Mas [Brother] Ayik, yeah, who was the (alleged) victim of today's assault. I spoke with Mbak [Sister] Nabila too. The three of use talked with several friends too. First of all, I apologise to both of them because this had to happen to them", he said.
Paksi stated that they needed time to fully understand the incident that occurred in order to obtain a complete chronology.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that ARTJOG remains committed to opening the widest possible space for freedom of expression.
"So, we absolutely do not want and will not hinder these intentions. So, even then repressing him to the point of an assault, that is not within our standards", he added.
Regarding the protest that touched on the involvement of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation as a sponsor of ARTJOG 2026, Paksi explained that the implementation of the arts festival had so far depended on the support of various sponsors.
"Oh yeah. We are actually an art event that also [tries to] survive, that's how it is. Hanging on to how we can hold our festival every year, that's it. Of course, we are not a corporation that has very strong capital, has very strong power in how we can run it every year", he explained.
He emphasised that they have listened to various input and criticism expressed by the public regarding DHF's involvement.
"But, what I can convey now is that I think our position is the same as other sponsors, who support us in holding this event every year", he explained.
When asked whether the polemic would be used as evaluation material for ARTJOG, Paksi confirmed that the matter would be discussed seriously by the organisers.
"It will definitely be material for our evaluation, material for our discussion. Our commitment is of course always based on freedom of expression, all of our friends. Artist friends and friends who perhaps admit that they are not artists", he asserted. (Christy Mahatma/Almurfi Syofyan/Hendy Kurniawan)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Buntut Aksi Represif terhadap Seniman, Koalisi Seni ARTJOKES Tuntut Permintaan Maaf Manajemen ARTJOG".]
