The Performing Arts and Fine Arts Study Program (PSPSR) Gadjah Mada University Postgraduate School collaborated with Jogja Disability Arts (JDA) Indonesia and DaDa Fest (UK) to hold a seminar entitled “Creating Meaning and Empowering Possibilities in Disability Arts Practice: Reflections from DaDa Fest ( English) and Jogja Disability Arts (Indonesia)”. This activity took place on Wednesday, May 7 2024 at Seminar Room A, Unit 1 Building, Postgraduate School.
Dr. Budi Irawanto, S.IP, M.A., Head of the PSPSR Study Program, said in his introduction that the relationship between art and disability is still neglected in public discourse and the art world in Indonesia. Therefore, the idea of disability art is still growing and developing in Indonesia. Meanwhile, collaboration emerged as a way to pool resources and explore new artistic possibilities in a spirit of communality.
This seminar is aimed at PSPSR Study Program students by presenting researchers and artists who are involved in developing art with disabilities both at the national level such as JDA Indonesia and at the international level, namely DaDa Fest. The main point discussed in this forum concerns the participation space for artists with disabilities in carrying out their agency, forming their image, representation and identity, thus opening up opportunities to change the culture of ableism to be more inclusive.
Ngozi Ugochukwo and Rachel Rogers (DaDa Fest International) were the keynote speakers in this discussion, providing a compelling image of disability art. DaDa Fest International with its motto “Creating art, challenging attitudes, challenging lives” provides a space for artists with disabilities who are very supportive starting from commissions, providing facilities for performances and exhibitions, training support, and professional problem solving.
Next, Triarani Utami and Nano Warsono, researchers and visual artists from JDA ID, gave a presentation on the results of their research entitled “Understanding the Spectrum of Meaning in Disability Art Collaboration”. This research provides a unique perspective regarding disability art in collaboration with a disability arts activist from Yogyakarta, namely Sukri Budi Dharma or who is familiarly called “Mas Butong”. The results of this research lead to feelings of self-confidence and motivation or further exploration by artists with disabilities which are seen as skills in creating something important or meaningful collectively with other artists.
The seminar was successful with discussions from each speaker. PSPSR Study Program students are expected to be able to better understand the meaning of art with disabilities which has the potential for relaxation, creativity, arousing empathy and acceptance from the audience.
This activity is in line with pillar 10 of the SDGs, namely reducing inequality.
Author: Siti Muyasaroh