Yogyakarta, September 25th 2025 – The Student Council (Dema) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is once again organizing its annual Arts Week program, which will take place from September 22 to 26, 2025, at the Sansiro Park, FISIPOL UGM. This year, the Arts Week carries the theme “The Confluence of Memory Through Form and Method” as a collective space to remember and express resistance against human rights violations, which remain a shared wound.
Naafi, the person in charge of the 2025 Arts Week, explained that this activity was born out of the collective awareness of FISIPOL students regarding the importance of providing a platform for expression. “We want to remind everyone that human rights violations must not be forgotten. This memory can be realized through various forms of art and expression,” he said in an interview.
The series of events began with an exhibition titled Memori September (Memories of September), which featured various art mediums, including installations, paintings, and written works. This exhibition served as a gateway to revive collective memories of human rights violations in Indonesia. During the first three days, the activities continued with book discussions, human rights discussions, writing workshops, and literary discussions.
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the art stage will present a cultural literary ketoprak and theater performance created in collaboration with students from the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. The highlight of the Arts Week will be closed with Friday Evening or Frieve, a music stage that provides an opportunity for students from various departments in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences to showcase their work.
One of the works that attracted attention at the exhibition was an art installation titled Healing Lan Waspada by Ibob Hariyatmoko. This work depicts the healing process that arises from the courage to face wounds honestly, while also reminding us of the importance of vigilance. “Do not let your guard down against old patterns that can hurt you again, do not be trapped in the illusion that healing means forgetting,” reads the narrative accompanying the work.
More than just an art event, the 2025 Arts Week also reflects students’ commitment to sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Through art and discussion, this event seeks to foster a culture of peace, fight for justice, and strengthen public awareness of the importance of upholding human rights in Indonesia. With collective spirit, the 2025 Arts Week affirms that art is not only a medium of expression, but also a space for resistance, a space for memory, and a space for hope.