Inclusivity and Accessibility for the Disabled Creative Community with Warna-Warna Vol.II
After a successful first edition held back in 2018, the Warna-Warna exhibition returns this year held at Dia.Lo.Gue Artspace, Jakarta. Initiated by singer Andien and organized by Yayasan Dialogue Seni Budaya (The Dialogue Arts and Culture Foundation), Warna-Warna Vol. II continues to highlight and make space for the brilliant artists from the disabled community in hopes of allowing their work to reach a wider audience. With the many collaborators working hand in hand, the exhibition successfully opened its doors to the public back on August 14th.
A reference to one of Andien’s own songs with the same name, the exhibition title Warna-Warna, or Colors, is an ode to looking at things from a different perspective. As such, this exhibition is a space that facilitates unique perspectives of the disabled creative community. While the exhibition invites visitors to challenge stereotypes and stigma around the disabled community, Warna-Warna is also crucial in its fight to actualize inclusion and accessibility in the arts. Keenly aware of the many socio-economic factors that hinder disabled workers, and disabled artists specifically, from being as competitive as their non-disabled peers in the professional world, Warna-Warna hopes to help solve this issue by being a space that provides inclusivity and accommodates disabled artists in the creative industry.
This edition of Warna-Warna has expanded beyond the nation’s capital with contributing artists from Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta, Bengkulu, Bali, and with the assistance of the British Council, the United Kingdom. Warna-Warna Vol.II showcases numerous works by both disabled artists and organizations dedicated to disabled creatives including Open Arms, British Council, Dwi Tunggal, Jogja Disability Arts, and Tab Space Bandung. On top of Andien Aisyah Foundation, the Dialogue Arts and Culture Foundation, and the British Council, the Warna-Warna also involved numerous other collaborators including co-founder of Bitte Design Studio, Agatha Carolina; communication consultant and initiator of B Publicist by Big Change Agency, Dian Maya Puspitasari; Open Arms; Selasar Sunaryo; and founder of Yayasan Seni Disabilitas Jogja ( Jogja Disability Arts Foundation), Nano Warsono, as well as Agung Hujatnikajennong as curator.
Warna-Warna Vol. II is a crucial artistic juncture that stresses the importance of inclusivity without the often patronizing tone around the achievements of the disabled community. The works on display provide a vibrant window into the frequently overlooked world of disabled creatives, inviting visitors to look at the world from a different lens. While this exhibition is a brilliant celebration of disability arts and a significant step towards inclusivity in the arts, it is clear that there’s still a great deal to be done to achieve a truly inclusive and accessible creative industry.
Warna-Warna Vol. II is still open to the public at Dia.Lo.Gue Artspace, Kemang, until October 13, 2024.
