This exhibition aimed to create a memorable experience. Unlike traditional exhibitions where visitors come to view artworks, this one offered a space for visitors to explore and discover themselves through the exhibition’s unique approach.

"Ourchetype" was inspired by Jungian psychology, which suggests that humans are not born as blank slates but carry latent and genetic personality traits inherited from their ancestors over generations.

Andi Abdulqodir, M.Ds., the Creative Director of Ourchetype, stated that the art literacy level of the visitors attending the exhibition was relatively low. The exhibition was designed to provide a space for visitors to reflect on themselves. Once visitors recognized their own traits, they were introduced to artworks that shared similar characteristics. Each artwork contained messages and meanings intended for the visitors. Through this method, visitors fully absorbed the messages of each artwork because they perceived reading the artworks as equivalent to reading themselves

The main figure of the exhibition was a duck. The duck was chosen because it always returns to where it was born. After hatching, the duck flies through various weather conditions before eventually returning to its birthplace to nest. Beyond its symbolism, the duck reminded the ITB Fine Arts Alumni of 2004 of their graduation ceremony, serving as a nostalgic element for the alumni.

The exhibition featured a storyline and offered interactive activities at each stage. One of the stages, "Buana Raya," required visitors to imagine themselves as a duck facing various choices, each leading to a distinct persona. A persona represents the aspect of oneself that is always presented to others.

Another stage, "Lintang Rintang," provided an auditory experience with disruptive sounds, revealing the shadow aspect—the part of oneself that is often hidden. After discovering both the persona and the shadow, the duck was guided toward "Bentang Makna" to form a complete self.

Another goal of the exhibition was to connect visitors who did not know each other. This was achieved through an artwork that invited visitors to write messages on a letter and then take a letter left by a previous visitor. Through this artwork, visitors could bond emotionally.

“We tried to bring the space to life and connect people through this exhibition,” said Andi.

On another level, the Ourchetype exhibition sought to showcase alumni who pursued cross-disciplinary careers. It demonstrated that fine arts encompass a broad scope, connecting various fields beyond traditional boundaries after graduation.

Andi mentioned that the biggest challenge faced during preparation was the research process itself. The final presentation of the exhibition was not randomly crafted, requiring thorough profiling of each characteristic to form a cohesive narrative. “The process of linking the theme with profiling to create a storyline was quite complex,” he explained.

With this exhibition, there is hope that it will evolve from a one-way interaction to a two-way exchange, becoming a platform for knowledge sharing between visitors and the artworks displayed.

Reporter: Chysara Rabani (Mining Engineering, 2022)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)
Editor: Ayesha Lativa Mafaza (Postharvest Technology, 2021)