The Syncretic Machine in Indonesian Art and Culture Dr. Agung Hujatnika (Visual Art Study Program, Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia)

This presentation will approach syncretism as a concept underlying many forms of cultural life in Indonesia. Syncretism is seen as an open view, a form of resistance, and a survival strategy in the face of puritanical and radical attitudes. Throughout the history of Indonesian society, encounters with different religious practices, colonialism and modernisation have resulted in the introduction of new, syncretic cultural practices, which highlight the way in which conflicts between contradictory values are being negotiated in a particular ‘Indonesian way’. Hujatnika will discuss works by contemporary Indonesian artists who responds to the social phenomena surrounding them as well as the ritualistic practices of pagan religions.


Agung Hujatnika a.k.a. Agung Hujatnikajennong earned his graduate and doctoral degrees from the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia. He has carried out curatorial residencies at Arts Initiative Tokyo, Japan (2011); Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Australia (2010); Nanjo and Associates, Tokyo (2004); Drill Hall Gallery, Canberra (2002) and Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia (2002). Apart from teaching at his alma mater, Hujatnika previously served as the Curator of Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung (2001-12). He has curated major solo exhibitions for artists such as, Agus Suwage, Handiwirman Saputra, Jompet Kuswidananto, Heri Dono and Mella Jaarsma. In 2012, Hujatnika curated the Bandung Pavilion at the Shanghai Biennale, China, along with Charles Esche and Arthub Asia, and in 2009 he curated Fluid Zones, the main exhibition of the 13th Jakarta Biennale, Indonesia. He is the Curator of the upcoming Biennale Jogja XII Equator #2, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2013).

Spaces for vision/Histories for interpretation: The hybridity of culture in the Islamic city through contemporary art works Mohamed Abdelrahman (Art Critic, International University of Africa, Sudan)

Mohamed Abdelrahman’s presentation will focus on the hitherto neglected artistic and cultural practices of cities on the periphery of the Islamic world. In order to highlight the international aspect of Islamic art and culture, he will argue, it is important to examine the relationship between Islamic art and the artistic practices found in these abandoned cities. Cities along the coast of the Red Sea are of particular importance given their geographical position between the East Asian and West African portions of the Islamic world. Abdelrahman will discuss the works of Sudanese painters and filmmakers who focus on the city of Sawakin within the framework of semiological and postcolonial theory.


Mohamed Abdelrahman carried out his undergraduate studies in graphics at the College of Fine and Applied Arts, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum (1985), and in linguistics and psychology at the Faculty of Arts, University of Khartoum (1997). He has a doctorate in African Studies from the International University of Africa, Khartoum. He has taught art and design at Ahfad University, Omdurman, Sudan, and linguistics at the International University of Africa. He has published several books on art criticism including, The Spaces of Multiplicity and Difference in Modern Arabic Plastic Art (Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, UAE, 2011); The Artist Omer Khairy: His Life and Art (Sudanese Plastic Arts Association, Khartoum, 2009); The Effects of Linguistics on Art Criticism, co-edited with Salah Hassan Abdullah (Sudanese Writers Union and Sudanese Plastic Arts Association, 2009); and The Paintings of Salah Elmur (Sudanese Plastic Arts Association, 2007). In 2011, Abdelrahman was awarded the Sharjah Award for Art Criticism (Department of Culture and Information).