Spatial Practice Transformation of Gudskul Collective Art Space In The Context of Post-Reformation Jakarta: 2000s-Present

Abstract

In the post-Reformasi era, contemporary art practices in Jakarta were marked by the emergence of numerous art collectives in the early 2000s. The decentralisation of power and expanded freedom of expression during this period transformed the spatial practices of these art collectives and the city, both physically and conceptually. These transformations ranged from the use of domestic spaces for artistic practice and the collective governance of shared spaces to the development of interconnected collective educational platforms. By tracing the spatial practice trajectories of three art collectives, initiator of Gudskul—ruangrupa, Serrum, and Grafis Huru Hara—this paper reflects on how the spatial practices of art collectives have been shaped by the city’s socio-political dynamics and how they actively engage with post-Reformasi transformations of urban social space. Drawing on the framework of middling urbanism, the paper argues that art collective spaces operate as an intermediary space in which power, opportunity, and risk are continuously negotiated through the ongoing production of social space, shared resources, and alternative education. By providing spaces for production, expression, and education, art collectives play a crucial role in shaping urban socio-political life beyond formal institutions and market structures.