Equator Symposium
Equator Symposium is international in scale, involving specialists and practitioners from various nations which can be included in breadth and scope of the equatorial line. Within the framework of an expert and knowledgeable discourse, the Equator Symposium will be cross-disciplinary, although its focus of attention is contemporary art. In this way the practice and discourse of contemporary art requires an open space, inclusive and ready to accept various critical studies that are relevant and sourced from a variety of disciplines and field of expertise. The Equator Symposium will also function as an effort to develop networks amongst individuals and institutions which can activate the role of experts and practitioners of Indonesian contemporary art in an international forum.
In the last decade important changes have occurred in Asia and the Arab Peninsula, which indicate the dynamics of social-political development encountering democracy. Reformation in Indonesia occurred in 1997- 1998, making Indonesia one of the largest Muslim countries with a democratic system.
Nearly a decade later, the countries of the Arab peninsula – for various reasons and urged by their own citizens, who were fed up with the restraints and pressures of authoritarian regimes – suddenly rose up and welcomed democracy. We know now that the transition is not always peaceful, nor completely smooth. Along with this, the rise of the Indonesian economy (also China, India, Brazil, Turkey and the Philippines) indicates the dynamics of the global economy shifting to the Asian region, whilst Europe and the United states experienced a downturn in growth, crises and economic complications which are yet to be resolved.
Unexpectedly, growth in the Asian region and in the Arab peninsula, which has occurred in the social, political and economic fields, has since become the development which have most impacted today’s world and will continue to impact on the future.
We can imagine that within these conditions there will also occur great changes and important developments in the fields of media, art, and culture in this region.
The Equator Symposium is an arena that we are preparing for a number of experts and practitioners to share and exchange knowledge and critical perspectives on matters pertaining to the development of our world today, by placing the Equatorial region as a departure point and main focus.
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Persons in charge
Mr. Enin Supriyanto (Project Officer for Equator Symposium)
Ms. Grace Samboh (Program Manager for Equator Symposium)
Ms. Ratna Mufida (Operational Manager for Equator Symposium)
Office
Yayasan Biennale Yogyakarta
(YBY, Jogja Biennale Foundation)
At the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
Jalan Sri Wedani No 1,
Yogyakarta, INDONESIA 55100
Information center
symposiumequator_yby@yahoo.com
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The Official Launch of the Equator Symposium
Yayasan Biennale Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Biennale Foundation)
Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2013, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: Duta Wacana University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
The official launching of the Equator Symposium (2013) was held in conjunction with Biennale Jogja XII Equator #2. The event was held to state the starting point of the Equator Symposium, “The Asian-African Conference was of the opinion that at this stage the best results in cultural cooperation would be achieved by pursuing bilateral arrangements to implement its recommendations and by each country taking action on its own, wherever possible and feasible.” (As excerpted from the Bandung Conference, 18-24 April 1955.) That particular statement is inline with Biennale Jogja’s core concepts on all of their holdings and events, which are formulated as a meeting and melting point of the arts and culture within the countries along the equator line. Within this launch, we will also be promoting the upcoming Equator on the Cloud, an online platform that we are building, and set a certain standards in presenting materials within the Equator Symposium platform and to initiate dialogue.
Speakers: TK Sabapathy, Enin Supriyanto, David Teh, Ahmad Hissou, Onno W. Purbo, Zen Hae, Prima Rusdi, Kampung Halaman, Pamityang2an, Wujudkan.com, X-CODE films, ruangrupa, Lifepatch, Jatiwangi Art Factory, Garasi Performance Institute