Subculture Visuals and Music Converge at the Cultural Clashing Exhibition

Canvas Confluence Collective (CCC), an organization dedicated to fostering and encouraging collaboration in the art world, is committed to prioritizing artists' needs by providing various resources such as scholarships, residencies, exhibition opportunities, and mentorship programs. Beyond this, CCC offers a supportive environment where artists can explore their creativity, develop skills, and connect with other practitioners. This mission is exemplified by the Cultural Clashing exhibition, which pays tribute to the interplay between music, art, and culture—exploring how each influences and shapes the others.  

The Cultural Clashing exhibition is hosted at the Melting Pot ASHTA District 8 as part of the Limitless ASHTA program, which consistently serves as a platform to support artists in showcasing their best works and aims to inspire people from diverse backgrounds. This exhibition also examines the reciprocal relationship between artistic practices and the subcultures that emerge around them, featuring works by visual artists, musicians, and illustrators. The participating artists resonate with the exhibition's concept, either directly or indirectly. Some are musicians, some are known for their artistic collaborations with musicians, and others are part of communities or subcultures shaped by music. By delving into these intersections, Cultural Clashing highlights visual art and investigates how music has shaped cultural narratives and defined the visual language of independent music in Indonesia's urban landscape from the 2000s to the present.  

The exhibition showcases prominent figures such as Sir Dandy from Teenage Death Star; Dendy Darman, co-founder of UNKL347 and Dendy Darman Studio; Lucky Widiantara, also a co-founder of UNKL347 and Lucas and Sons; Helvi Syarifuddin, co-founder of the independent label FFWD and a member of Teenage Death Star; and Oomleo of Goodnight Electric, who is active with his program Oom Leo Berkaraoke. It also features illustrator Sanchia Hamidjaja, whose comic series Problema Nona explores women's experiences in contemporary Indonesia, and Ykha Amelz, known for her art capturing everyday life. Anggarez Aditya from Lawless presents tattoo-inspired designs influenced by skate culture and heavy metal. At the same time, Vincent Rompies, a member of Goodnight Electric, public figure, host, and founder of VINDES, also contributes. Other notable participants include Henry Foundation, founder of Goodnight Electric and both an artist and musician; Arswandaru, a visual artist and musician from the funk band Ali; John Navid and Saleh Husein from White Shoes and The Couples Company (WSATCC); Fluxcup, a new media artist whose works are primarily distributed online; Namoy Budaya, a reggae music producer and visual creator; and Abenk Alter, a visual artist and member of the band Soulvibe.  

The participating artists capture the intricate connections between music, art, and subcultures, celebrating Indonesia's creative evolution through narratives of collaboration, authenticity, and localization. Cultural Clashing commemorates the sonic and visual legacy of subcultures, sparking reflections on the ongoing evolution of urban creative landscapes while emphasizing the critical role of art and music in shaping collective memory and contemporary culture.  

Cultural Clashing opens on Friday, January 17, 2025, with an exhibition that evolves into a month-long program featuring various public activations. These include workshops such as screen printing with Makmur Djaya, tufting with RAG Home, upcycling with Setali, and music performances by Aksara Records alongside DJ sets by Namoy Budaya, Hendra from Rock and Roll Mafia, and Norrm Radio.

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About the Author

Alessandra Langit

Alessandra Langit is a writer with seven years of diverse media experience. She loves exploring the quirks of girlhood through her visual art and reposting Kafka’s diary entries at night.