Messages on the wall
The Ricecooker Archives presents a DIY flyer art exhibition from Bali.
The Ricecooker Archives, an independent treasury in KL documenting obscure or lost south-east Asian music and rock ‘n’ roll histories, will be presenting its first regional collaboration series with indonesia’s Denpasar Kolektif’s Bergerak Bersama exhibition.
The Bergerak Bersama touring exhibition, produced by the Denpasar Kolektif, is a visual record of DiY punk subculture and social activism in Bali from 20102018. it will show at The Ricecooker Archives/Balai Buku Raya gallery space at the Zhongshan building, Kampung Attap in KL today and tomorrow.
The exhibition, featuring over 100 DiY gig flyers, assorted underground paraphernalia and independent publications, has already visited Tokyo and Taipei in recent weeks. The show represents the enduring influence of DiY design from the collective’s past, present and future.
Gilang Propagila, one of the Denpasar Kolektif founder members, has been on the road, touring with the Bergerak Bersama exhibition.
“The Bergerak Bersama gig flyers have all been created by manual drawing methods. no computer or digital touch-ups. They have the raw energy and powerful visuals inspired by hardcore and punk gig flyers from the 1980s. each flyer also contains a certain socio-political element, giving context to what is happening in Bali now,” says Gilang about the works.
in 2010, the Denpasar Kolektif, a hardcore/punk and activist art community from Bali, began organising non-profit gigs in a studio space in its neck of the woods, while also building up a lively non-mainstream arts hub. it has also been an active and vocal participant in the protest movement against land reclaimation (Tolak Reklamasi) in Bali.
“The flyers are a contrast to the visual stereotypes associated with Bali, an island often portrayed in hotel brochures, postcards and paintings as a paradise without conflict. The gig flyers dare to speak the truth ... from the lack of community space because Bali is under pressure by modernisation and commercialisation, to the destruction of the environment in Bali due to the greedy tourism industry,” he adds.
Apart from organising gigs, the Denpasar Kolektif has a DiY zine library, art workshop and exhibition series and a community product market.
The Ricecooker Archives, which began operating at the Zhongshan building last year, will also be hosting a Denpasar Kolektif documentary screening and talk (by Gilang) at the independent music store Tandang Records (in the same building) tonight at 9pm.
“One of the main aspects of what we do is to highlight and document current and historical artistic works or cultural artefacts related to youth culture and rock ’n’ roll in south-east Asia. The first exhibition we did was a photographic portrayal of the local underground music scene. This upcoming Bergerak Bersama exhibition will serve to strengthen our regional networking,” says Joe Kidd, the founder of The Ricecooker Archives.
“We can’t force people to dive underground and check out what’s happening (in the region or back home), but if we can collate, document and present these fringe and non-mainstream developments for posterity, then this process will ultimately help highlight and promote such works. Our hope is that these thoughts and ideas from such marginalised causes and voices will inspire others,” he adds. Bergerak Bersama exhibition is on at The Ricecooker Archives/Balai Buku Raya space, 82B, Zhongshan building, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap in Kuala Lumpur today and tomorrow. Open: 2pm-9pm. Free admission. FB: The Ricecooker Archives.