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Immerse Yourself in Gang Festival

Sydney was offered a rare glimpse into the underground art world of Indonesia when the Gang Festival kicked off on January 12, 2006.

For the first time Gang Festival brought together cutting edge artist run initiatives in Indonesia and Australia for a two-week showcase of film, music, writing and visual art.

Spearheaded by artist run spaces in Chippendale, January’s program was the culmination of six months of exchange and collaboration between spaces in Indonesia and Australia. The festival hosted 6 visiting Indonesian artists and works from over 16 arts organisations. Indonesian guests include Bandung filmmaker Ariani Darmawan, Jogyakarta writer Fitri Dwi Kurniasih, and performance artist Reza Afisina of Jakarta’s Ruang Rupa.

‘Gang’ is the Indonesian word for alleyway or backstreet (pronounced ‘Gung’), alluding to the underground art scene and the importance of community. The festival also drew on the English meaning of the word, with cross-cultural collaboration between large groups of art workers on the margins of the commercial art world.

‘With many artist run spaces in Sydney working in isolation, Gang Festival was a vital part of building a stronger network, not only in Australia but internationally’ says Festival Director Alexandra Crosby.

‘Surviving as an artist is a difficult lifestyle in Sydney, and even more so in Indonesia. Gang Festival celebrated the creativity of artists working together outside the commercial arts scene.’

One of the most interesting collaborations of the Gang Festival was the May’s project, where the Taring Padi collective was invited to paint a 3 x 2.5 metre panel space installed on May Lane, St. Peters.

On May 17th 2006, May's will re-exhibit the panel along with work from other artists as a preserved account of the lane’s activity. More information at
http://mays.org.au/

With a range of free and low-cost events, Gang Festival was a unique opportunity to explore the hidden cultural spaces emerging in Sydney’s inner city. A range of exhibitions, screenings, and forums lead up to an all-day street festival on January 29.

For more information visit http://www.gangfestival.com/
Gang was proudly supported by the following organisations: The City of Sydney, Australia Council for the Arts, and the Australia Indonesia Institute.