There is a unique way of watching film in Indonesian that also shapes the memory of experiencing films in the country; it is called “layar tancap” or outdoor screening. It is usually held in an open square (eg. football field), where a film is projected onto a large screen. In one night several films are projected for free. Independent film screeners run these outdoor screenings. This tradition not only shapes the experience of watching films but also becomes an event for social gathering where people meet at “pasar malam” (night fair) for social interaction and economic transaction. This habit has vanished with the rise of indoor cinemas and the monopoly of film distribution In Indonesia. The spirit of Layar Tancap inspires our independent media distribution project. It aims to return the spirit of watching film and creating a social gathering, it can also be held organically in many places.
The Gerobak Bioskop cinema cart, is designed as a movable and easily operated film and video screening station. The equipment will be collaboratively designed by artists, designers, IT technicians and will then be created by the community according to local aesthetics.
The Gerobaks and all equipment donated to the communities and will be monitored to make sure that they continue to conduct regular screening programmes and/or other events related to education in media and its presentation in public space.
With Gerobak Bioskop project, Ruangrupa will try to strengthen the network between organizations in Indonesia, with similar visions, in order to collaborate and exchange discourse.
Ruangrupa is an artists’ initiative established in 2000 by a group of artists in Jakarta. It is a nonprofit organization that strives to support the idea of art within urban and cultural context by involving artists and other disciplines such as social sciences, politics, technology, media, etc, to give critical observation and views towards Indonesian urban contemporary issues. ruangrupa also produce collaborative works in the form of art projects such as exhibition, festival, art lab, workshop, research, as well as book, magazine and online-journal publication.
In the experimentation area, we have Art Lab, an art project program which is designed to conduct research and creative collaborations on the urban and media issues. Art Lab serves as a collaborative space for individual artists as well as interdisciplinary groups from Indonesia and abroad.
To support the contemporary art development, the Promotion and Support Division has opened the RURU Gallery, providing a space to exhibit visual art works by young artists and curators, by holding six exhibitions in a year. The division also holds art and visual culture writing workshop, as well as curatorial workshop; both workshops are held once a year and publish an online publication Jarakpandang.net.
Since 2004, ruangrupa held Jakarta 32°c, a biennial visual art exhibition by Jakarta students. It involves curatorial process, young artist experimentation, art writing, and exhibition organization.
Ruangrupa specifically supports the development of video art through research, documentation, as well as the biennial international video festival, OK. Video. The Research and Development Division regularly conducts research, discussion, and publication. We also publish Karbonjournal.org, an online journal focused on the public space phenomenon as well as visual culture among the citizen.