Tab Space (ID) and Art et al. (UK) presented the collaborative work of two Indonesian neurodivergent artists, Suzanne M Yazid and Angkasa Nasrullah Emir, and two British artists, James Lambert and Richard Phoenix.
Capturing Surroundings, or Merekam Sekitar in Indonesian, is a collaborative art exhibition between two neurodivergent artists from Indonesia, Suzanne M. Yazid and Angkasa Nasrullah Emir, and two artists from the UK, James Lambert and Richard Phoenix. The collaboration was organised by Tab Space and Art et al. with support from the British Council’s Connection Through Culture (CTC) programme.
For six months, the four artists painted their favourite things, exchanged stories and inspirations, and created new artworks together. The works are the result of synergies formed by different perspectives of art, language, and human cognitive structures. Moreover, neurodivergent individuals—those whose brain functions differently from what we consider typical or normal—often have unique visual styles. Thus, a more inclusive space is needed in the contemporary art ecosystem to appreciate the works of neurodivergent artists.
Sharing a Vision to Promote Inclusivity
Tab Space and Art et al. are two organisations that share a similar vision of encouraging inclusivity in art that crosses borders. Tab Space is a Bandung-based social initiative that focuses on supporting, empowering and presenting artists and illustrators with disabilities. Tab Space believes that with the right support system, disabled artists can also become professional practitioners.
When Tab Space saw the opportunity to network with artists on an international level, they immediately thought of contacting Art et al., especially when they learnt that the format of CTC is an art and cultural partnership and exchange.
Tab Space became aware of Art et al. when Sim Luttin, who was running a programme with the Australia Council of Arts, visited Tab Space. Luttin introduced Art et al. which he developed with two UK partners, Lisa Slominski and Jennifer Gilbert; an international platform based on the need for more inclusive programming and access in contemporary art for artists with neurodivergent, learning disability or intellectual disability. In addition, Art et al. connects artists from the studio with international partners, art professionals, and the public.
In that spirit, Art et al. initiated the Peer to Peer programme, which brings together two neurotypical and neurodivergent artists to collaborate with international artists. Knowing this programme, Tab Space wanted to adapt it by bringing together Tab Artists with Art et al. network artists.
Eventually, two Tab Artists, Suzanne M. Yazid and Angkasa Nasrullah Emir, were selected to collaborate with James Lambert and Richard Phoenix. The programme ran over several online sessions where both artists created works together.
Suzanne & James Visualised the Five Senses
Through Suzanne and James’ meetings facilitated by Nurul Lathifah (Tab Space) and Lisa Slominski (Art et al.), the idea of depicting and capturing the five senses emerged as their main activity.
Both artists exchanged responses to their work. Suzanne, an artist with cerebral palsy, first created lines with distinctive characters. James, an illustrator by profession, responded to Suzanne's lines with abstract graphics and added layers of colour.
The two artists then dubbed each sense based on their respective interests, namely The Sound of the City, The Smell of Home, The Feel of Love, The Sight of Light, and The Taste of Coffee.
Suzanne and James’ works tend to contrast with each other, but in this collaboration, they were able to find a new visual style.
