Amos
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My name is Amos, also known as Amos Ursia. I am an independent researcher and writer, I graduated from history department in Yogyakarta State University. My multidisciplinary research specializes in decolonial/postcolonial studies, historiography, and art history. Importantly, I write art critics on visual arts, literary, and performing arts.
Artistically, my works also take the form of literary prose and poetry. My latest poetry manuscript, titled "Gentayangan Puitika," won third place in the Poetry Manuscript Competition organized by the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) in 2023.
PUBLICATIONS
Art Critics & Essays
"Celebrating Ten Years of Yogyakarta Biennale, Celebrating Equator", this essay is a critical analysis of the ten-year anniversary of the Yogyakarta Biennale's equatorial series. By examining the publication of the Yogyakarta Biennale as a starting point, this essay then maps the fundamentals of discourse and practice within the Yogyakarta Biennale over the course of a decade. Key concept such as decolonization, the Global South, new internationalism, and alternative art networks are the main topics of discussion in this essay. This essay published in Omong-omong Media:
"Guiding, Transplanting Awareness: Notes from a School Visitation Program.", an essay about how contemporary art intertwined with villagers in Yogyakarta Biennale. This essay published in Yogyakarta Biennale Newsletter:
"Hearing the Footsteps of Historical Ghost in Anno Domini", a critical essay about Jompet Kuswidananto's installation in 17th Yogyakarta Biennale Exhibition. This essay published in Omong-omong Media as an official media partner in 17th Yogyakarta Biennale:
"Giant Dragonflies at Karang Kitri: Notes from 17th Yogyakarta Biennale", a critical opinion about waste crisis and ecological issues in Yogyakarta. One of the artist in 17th Yogyakarta Biennale, Aji Ardoyono, make a giant dragonflies installation that serves as a powerful reflection of waste crisis issue. This opinion published in main column at Kedaulatan Rakyat daily newspaper, 20 October 2023.
"La Sirene and History of Colonized People." (author translation), an essay about the dance performance "La Sirène" by choreographer Junadry Leocaria and Richard Kofi from the Netherlands, which connects different cultures in dealing with colonial history. This essay published in Bahasa Indonesia as:
Amos. “La Sirene dan Sejarah Kaum Terjajah." Omong-omong Media, 11 Feb 2023 (https://omong-omong.com/la-sirene-dan-sejarah-kaum-terjajah/)
"Choreography and Theology of the Cross: Reflecting "Attached Life" Xena Israley Loppies." (author translation), an essay about the dance performance by emerging Jakarta-based choreographer Xena Israely Loppies. This repertoire showed in Indonesian Choreographer Week held by Jakarta Art Councils. This essay publish in Bahasa Indonesia as:
Amos. Koreografi dan Teologi Salib: Menyaksikan Attached Life Karya Xena Israely Loppies." Borobudur Writers, 20 June 2023 (https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fborobudurwriters.id%2Fseni-pertunjukan%2Fkoreografi-dan-teologi-salib-menyaksikan-attached-life-karya-xena-israely-loppies%2F&sa=D)
"Unveiling the Shackles of Education with Budi." (author translation), an essay about dance performance by Megatruh Banyu in Helatari Salihara 2023. This repertoire showcases a profound contemplation of systemic uniformity in Indonesian education. My essay on this performance utilizes archives and a historical approach as a critique that reveals the genealogy of the uniformity that this performance presents. This essay published in Bahasa Indonesia as:
Amos. "Menyingkap Belenggu Pendidikan Bersama Budi." Salihara, June 2023
https://salihara.org/menyingkap-belenggu-pendidikan-bersama-budi/
"Sandikala Ensemble and Struggle Against Coloniality" (author translation) an essay about experimental sound composition by Sandikala Ensemble, who try to deconstruct conventional art form of Javanese gamelan. This essay published in Bahasa Indonesia as:
Amos. "Sandikala Ensamble dan Upaya Melampaui Kolonialitas." Salihara. 17 Feb 2023
https://salihara.org/sandikala-ensemble-dan-upaya-melampaui-kolonialitas/
"Bahar, Barter, and Cosmopolitan Spice Trade in the 16th Century." (author translation), an essay about a history of cosmopolitan spice trade in the 16th century. This essay published in Bahasa Indonesia as:
Amos. “Satuan Bahar, Barter, dan Bukti Perdagangan Rempah yang Kosmopolit di Abad 16." Jalur Rempah, 8 Nov 2022
Conference Presentation
"Can Subaltern Write History?: Postcolonial Inquiry Within Indonesian Historiography Polemics" presented at Literature and Ideas Festival (LIFEs) Salihara 2023.
"Onatani Sarawandan, Family History, and Banda Massacre 1621: An Autoethnographic Study" presented at Yogyakarta Biennale Equator Symposium 2022.
“Cultural Resilience in Traditional Art of Banda People: A Historical Study” presented at International Conference on Indonesian Culture (ICONIC), 22-24 August 2022, organized by Ministry of Education and Culture.
“Spice & Subaltern History: An Alternative Reading of Spice Historiography” presented at International Forum on Maritime Spice Trading Routes and Cultural Encounters in Indo-Pacific: Past, Present and Future, 2021. Organized by Maranatha Christian University, ICOSMOS, Fujian Normal University, and Negeri Rempah Foundation.
WORKSHOP & ART COURSE
Performing Art Critic Workshop, Jakarta Theatre Festival & Jakarta Art Council.
July 2023.
Art critic class, performing art critic workshop, performing art publication. Held by oldest theatre festival in Southeast Asian which is Jakarta Theatre Festival and collaboration with Jakarta Art Council.
Extension Course in Driyarkara School of Philosophy.
February - July 2021.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Coordinator for upcoming Equator Symposium 2024 held by Yogyakarta Biennale.
February 2024 - Now
Writing the fundamental concept, designing a symposium concept, coordinating its implementation, designing events, publishing ideas and writings, etc.
Public education team at "Titen" exhibition held by Yogyakarta Biennale 2023.
October - November 2023.
Writing publication, providing curatorial talks and forum for the public, guiding a curatorial tour at exhibition, etc.
Writer at Jalur Rempah by Directorate General of Culture,
Ministry of Education and Culture.
November 2022 - January 2023.
Wrote monthly essays in art and culture topics about Spice Route in 'Jalur Rempah' website (https://jalurrempah.kemdikbud.go.id)
Freelance Research Assistant.
August 2022 - Now.
Providing archive and primary document for art & cultural studies research. Mainly, archival source about 19th century culture in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
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