On Wednesday (May 21st), the Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, held another session of its Wednesday Forum, this time raising the theme “Between the Mountain and the Sea.” The forum featured Arahmaiani—an acclaimed Indonesian artist, activist, poet, and writer—as the main speaker.
Held in Classroom 307, 3rd Floor of the UGM Graduate School Building, Arahmaiani delivered a critical reflection on the human position within the ecological landscape. She emphasized that humans are not the only living beings between the mountains and the sea, but are often the only ones who damage and exploit these spaces.
“Not all humans, but always humans,” Arahmaiani remarked, encouraging participants to rethink humanity’s relationship with nature and consider how changes occurring between mountain and sea reflect the dynamics between human and non-human entities.
Adopting an interdisciplinary approach in her artistic practice, Arahmaiani merges art with various academic disciplines in responding contemporary issues such as gender, politics, culture, and the environment. She also elaborated on the ancient philosophies regarding the balance of feminine and masculine energy—found in animism, Hinduism, and Buddhism—can be reinterpreted in today’s context.
“I don’t limit my practice to personal subjectivity. I open myself to engage with communities so that we can collectively respond to the challenges of our time,” she said. Since 2006, she has been running a long-term community-based art project titled Fall Project, and actively collaborates with communities both in Indonesia and abroad. Since 2010, Arahmaiani has also been active in the Tibetan Plateau, addressing environmental issues while connecting them to the forgotten ancestral cultural heritage of the Nusantara.
This forum not only offered a space for academic dialogue but also welcomed public participation. Attended by students, researchers, artists, and members of the public, the event served as a reflective and collaborative space to discuss a shared future between humans and nature.
The event was held in a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, complemented by environmentally friendly snacks and beverages. Participants were encouraged to bring their own tumblers.
Writer: Asti Rahmaningrum