This project is a series of research on studies about cities. The city is observed as a structure similar to human anatomy, which is a complex construction of super-structures. Particularly on the case of Bandung City, Indonesia, on daily basis people are confronted with layered, fragmented, fully distorted spaces, almost organic like a living amoeba. City spaces, not merely building blocks but also crowded noises and activities, had forced us to apply a strategic improvisation as a method of survival. Therefore various studies of cases on city spaces is quite significant, particularly when we are confined in city spaces that grow in enormous speed while our adaptation abilities are limited. The tension creates various conflicts in the personal and collective level.

36_Frames #3

36_ Frames Project is a public participant project. Each individual participant is given a roll of color or monochrome film consisted of 36 frames and allowed to shoot any objects in the city that is considered significant. Using photography as a medium, we should be able to capture the city from a personal point of view. The result then printed into a specific size, displayed in a sequential order as 2-Dimensional modules. The final presentation of this project is a collective display of the modules. This collective presentation of the city is a tool to measure and share different personal experiences of the participants when they're confronted with city spaces.

The first 36_Frames Project was made in Bandung on February 2002, inviting public to shoot 36 frames of picture with The Self as the theme. In the next project the plan is aiming for students with specific field of studies (Architecture, Design, Film, Art, Philosophy) to shoot 36 frame pictures of Helsinki. As a preparation for this project, Art students in Bandung will be asked to take 36 pictures of Bandung. The final presentation will display a conjuncture of images of the cities, Bandung and Helsinki.

Luncheon on The Grass: Conversation Project #2

City development and the people living in it are interrelated. Project Luncheon on The Grass: Conversation Project #1 was being held in Babakan Siliwangi City Park, Bandung, Indonesia, inviting four random participants to lunch together in open space while conversing on Bandung in personal context and their relation in social spaces. All of the session was recorded in audio, video and still images.

The extension of this project will be held in Helsinki City Park, where a group of people, anonymous to each other, will be invited to participate in doing a similar activity held before in Bandung. It is planed that a local radio station, recording and broadcasting the conversation, will relay the project. As the project held before, all of the session will be recorded.

The final presentation of this project will be the simultaneous display of both of the recorded conversation session in audio, slides and video.

Façade Study #2

The façade study was made as a scanning project to study super structure, the many micro structure within, and the relations between them. On this occasion, Kevin Lynch’s thesis “The Image of The City” was used as a basic paradigm on executing this study. The thesis divides city structures to a series of elements: Paths-Edges-District-Nodes-Landmarks. On this project, three video cameras directed to three different angles will simultaneously record a façade view following many paths in city spaces. The façade study is the heart of the City Surgery project.

Team Profile

Gustaff H. Iskandar (b. 1974) graduated in 1999 from Fine Arts Department, Bandung Institute of Technology. Starting from 1999, Gustaff entered art management scene, wrote, participated in some visual art exhibitions, organized publishing of Trolley Magazine for some years. In the end of 2001, along with R.E. Hartanto and T. Reza Ismail founded Bandung Center for New Media Arts. Having partnership with his wife, Reina Wulansari, and other colleagues, Gustaff is working on his art, working for the organization, write and speak on discussions and symposiums. Gustaff lives and works in Bandung. Selected exhibition consists: | 2004 | “Beyond Panopticon”, BEC, Bandung, ID. “Carte-Blanche #2: Sans Titre”. Center Culturel Français, Jakarta, ID. | “36 Frames”, Common Room, Bandung. | 2003 | I'll be Your Mirror, Center Culturel Français, Jakarta, ID. “Interupsi! Modus & Media”, GSPI, Bandung, ID. | 2002 | “After the (f)ACT”, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung, ID. “A World is Collage is A World is Collage”, Soemardja Gallery, Bandung, ID. “Signes”, workshop & exhibition, Soemardja Gallery, Bandung, ID. “The Rhizome Project”, The British Council Library, Jakarta, ID. “Multiplicity”, Web Art, www.translingual.org. | 2000 | Conversation in the Field, Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, ID.

Pumpung Wratmoko (b. 1974) graduated in 1998 from Design Department, Bandung Institute of Technology. As soon as graduated, Pumpung worked in media-related commercial projects including: (1995 – 1996) Art Director, Studio D-23, Bandung, (1997 – 1998) Art Director, Cabe Rawit Advertising, Jakarta. (1998 – present) Creative, Cerahati Artworks, Bandung, producing musical video-clip for local underground band. To date, more than 30 clips have been released.

R.E. Hartanto (b. 1973) graduated in 1998 from Fine Arts Department, Bandung Institute of Technology. 2001 - 2002 participated in Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten. In the end of 2001, along with Gustaff H. Iskandar and T. Reza Ismail founded Bandung Center for New Media Arts and working for the organization until today. Project & residency includes: | 2003 | ARCUS Project, Moriya, Ibaraki, Japan. | OK Video, Jakarta Video Art Festival, Ruangrupa, Jakarta, ID. Renga Project, National Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Luncheon on The Grass: Conversation Project #1, Bandung Center for New Media Arts, Bandung, ID. | 2002 | BESSENGUE City, Douala, Cameroon. Signes, Soemardja Gallery, Bandung, ID. Rhizome Project, The British Council, Jakarta, ID. | 2001 | East - West - North - South, Skoki, Poland. | 2000 | The International Masterclass for New Media Artists & Curators, Australian Network for Art & Technology, Brisbane, Australia. | 1998 - 1999 | Bandung Institute of Technology & Curtin University Online Art Exchange, Bandung, ID - Perth, Australia.

Wahyu Sulasmoro (b. 1969) graduated in 1996 from Design Department, Bandung Institute of Technology. Starting from 1987 participating in DKSB (Bandung Art Creation Depot), a group led by musician Prof. Dr. Harry Roesli. Involved in various contemporary music performances in Indonesia and collaborated with several group of theatre. Along with Mandiri Group of Theatre, Sulasmoro performed in Kyoto (“War”, Kyoto Art Institute, 2003), Hamburg (“The Coffin is Too Big for The Hole”, 2002), Singapore (“The Coffin is Too Big for The Hole”, 2001), Tokyo (“The Coffin is Too Big for The Hole”, Asia Meets Asia Art Festival, 2000). Starting from 2001 to present, along with Pumpung, Xonad, Punjung, Niang, Gustaff, developed Biosampler, a multimedia performance group which performed in public spaces (tunnel, library, warehouse, hotel lobby, beach, etc.), collaborated with local DJs and groups of theatre. Biosampler’s realized projects consist: “After the (F)act”, in collaboration with Carolyn Black (visiting artist from Bristol, UK), Bandung Center for New Media Arts, Ruangrupa, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, 2002. “God is a DJ”, theatre performance, director: Wawan Sofwan, Fabriek Gallery, Bandung. “Tribute to Nothingness”, multimedia performance, connection tunnel, ITB campus, Bandung, 2001. “Rhizome”, multimedia performance, library room, The British Council Jakarta. Starting from 2003 to present joined Cerahati, a production house working on musical video-clip for local underground band. To date, more than 30 clips have been released.