Since 1977, Fusion Arts has connected artists with the community. The organisation promotes creative projects that encourage social justice and celebrate diversity through participatory artistic activities in Oxford and the surrounding areas.
Fast forward to 2024, Fusion Arts collaborated with Yogyakarta-based Soboman Artspace Collective on a joint project for the Great Big Green Week 2024 (8–16 June 2024). This project aimed to bring a unique Indonesian cultural practice to a wider international audience.
Relearning the Wisdom of Tradition
This project explored the tradition of cowongan through an immersive art exhibition titled Tetiten Swarane Tandur or Hear the Seeds Sing. Cowongan is a rain-calling ritual performed by the people of Banyumas (Central Java, Indonesia), especially by farmers who are experiencing a long drought. The Banyumas believe that Dewi Sri, also known as the Goddess of Rice and a symbol of prosperity, is the one who sends down rain and grows rice.
The phrase Tetiten Swarane Tandur, which literally translates as “Listen to the Sound of Planting,” is a sign for farmers to start cultivating the land and planting crops. However, farming communities now face the irony of having no land to cultivate.
Addressing these environmental concerns, the Tetiten Swarane Tandur or Hear the Seeds Sing exhibition aimed to highlight climate change, food security and land justice from the perspective of Indonesian farmers. Fusion Arts’ Marketing Manager, Feng Ho, and Soboman Artspace’s Production Manager, Alya Gunara, have worked as representatives of both collectives to realise this project.
Looking back on the preparation process for this collaboration, Feng Ho shared something personal. “The journey of ‘Hear the Seeds Sing’ is very personal to me,” he said. “I connected with Munir (Soboman Artspace) through Instagram more than two years ago. I was intrigued by his artwork and our shared passion for activism and art.”
As a result of this connection, six members of the Soboman Artspace Collective undertook residencies in Oxford, including artists Munir Al Sachroni, Clesia Christine, Sarjono, writer Ribka Barus, and documenter Deden Ardiansyah.
Mural as the Centre of Exhibition
The exhibition features a 10-metre long mural as its centrepiece. At the opening, Soboman Artspace left it half-finished so that it can be completed collaboratively with visitors, fostering dialogue between locals and Indonesian artists. This participation emphasises the importance of shared responsibility towards the Earth.
In addition to the mural, there is also a sculpture installation of Dewi Sri and sound elements that enhance the immersive nature of the exhibition.
Fusion Arts and Soboman Artspace also co-organised several other programmes, including a panel discussion. Harvesting Change: Art, Activism, and Food Security in the Climate Crisis featured writers, artists, and activists from Oxford and Yogyakarta. This discussion explored ways to nurture relationships between Global South and Global North initiatives and highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in the face of pressing environmental issues.
Celebrating Across Cultures and Communities
There were also workshops. Clesia Christine (Soboman Artspace) led an Indonesian batik workshop where participants learned traditional batik techniques to understand its cultural significance.
Supporting the exhibition, there were several workshops that introduced local culture. Khairani Barokka led the workshop in Indonesian and English to highlight the power of language in expressing environmental and cultural themes, resulting in a collection of poems.