Sedekah Benih
Vincent Rumahloine and Mang Dian
Based in Bandung, Western Indonesia, Sedekah Benih researches and documents the traditional ecological knowledge that is passed down in society from generation to generation through art and media. At the root of the project is the belief that traditional knowledge can be learned, developed, and shared to help solve the current problems related to climate change.
Since April 2021, Sedekah Benih has magnified the importance of building bridges between science and society in order to facilitate change. The project has shifted its focus to preparing communities for an exchange of knowledge. Often, there are communication gaps when certain knowledge is introduced to a community; at the same time, individual communities lack the confidence to interact with people whom they consider more intelligent or powerful. Sedekah Benih aims to strengthen individuals within the local culture through a series of initiatives that combine traditional ecological knowledge with other activities that expose them to different circles. Sedekah Benih has now evolved into a safe space, encouraging communities of diverse backgrounds to come together in Bandung to share and discuss ideas and know-how.
This project highlights the role of a group of mothers from the Cibogo area. Through a series of programs developed over the last year, Sedekah Benih has discovered how important the work of women—particularly mothers—is within the community. With their help, the initiative’s reach has expanded significantly. The next steps will focus on the involvement of local children, followed by a more gradual outreach to fathers and youths.
Together with several communities in the city of Bandung, Sedekah Benih is now ready to share and exchange knowledge that will be beneficial for the future of many people.
Listen to the form Design Podcast’s latest series, Driving the Human x form Design Podcast. In six episodes, participants from the Driving the Human initiative discuss the intersection of design and science.
We are excited to share four videos looking back at the Driving the Human festival, one for each day and an overall recap.
In 2022, the Driving the Human initiative met its ultimate goal of materializing the Seven Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal.
From November 25–27, 2022, Driving the Human: 7 Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal brought to Berlin a variety of formats exploring new ways of envisioning and inhabiting the world.
From November 25-27, 2022, Driving the Human hosts a three-day festival in Berlin marking the culmination of three years of collaboration, research and experimentation connecting disciplines between sciences and the arts.
Initiated by Vincent Rumahloine and Mang Dian in Bandung, Western Indonesia, “Sedekah Benih” is a platform for knowledge exchange, focussing on bridging scientific and community knowledge by using seeds as vessels of ecological intelligence.
Following our Berlin festival presenting 21 visions for eco-social renewal, the Driving the Human jury had the difficult task to select seven projects to be developed as prototypes throughout 2022.
The three days of exchange and connection in Berlin could be followed along an accompanying livestream. The broadcast of day 1 is now available to be revisited here and on our Vimeo channel.
Taking a deeper look at Sedekah Benih, a collaborative project between artist Vincent Rumahloine and environmental activist Mang Dian.
From October 15 – 17, 2021, Driving the Human presents 21 concepts proposing new visions for sustainable cohabitation on our planet.
We are thrilled to announce the 21 concepts chosen as a result of a successful Open Call.
Vincent Rumahloine is a contemporary artist that playfully interrogates the social fabric and the mundane in society. His work mainly revolves around people; from social issues, human rights, traditional values, human relations, collective memories to redesigning historic narratives. Rumahloine is the winner of the sixth Bandung Contemporary Art Award 2019. His winning project Don’t Call Me A Hero was exhibited in the Latiwangi Art Gallery in Bandung and tells the story about an Indonesian exile in Prague, who lost his citizenship after the 1965 tragedy. Vincent’s work bridges the gaps in society by adding a twist of uncanniness and by using artistic strategies to get closer to the experiences and lives of (non- art minded) others. Vincent graduated in Ceramics at The Bandung Institute of Technology in 2009. He worked as an art teacher and as a social worker with HIV/AIDS victims, before becoming a full-time artist. His project has been presented at Pulosari Public Space in Bandung, Contemporary Ujazdowksi Castle in Warsaw (Poland) and The National Gallery of Indonesia in Jakarta.
Mang Dian is an environmental activist that works with the river, waste management and urban farming in Bandung, Indonesia together with Cikapundung Community, Karang Taruna, dan PHL BBWS Citarum. He is now the director of Masagi Community and head of the neighbourhood 04 Cibogo, Bandung. He runs and manages his urban farming activity at his small garden called Urban Organik Farm at Cibogo, Bandung.
Rumahloine and Dian have worked together since 2014, in the projects Kuncen Leuwi and Family Portrait Project. Currently, they are collaborating in Sedekah Benih and Rubicon, a project collaboration between Rakarsa Foundation, IFI Bandung and Goethe Institut Bandung with the support of the German – France Cultural Fund.
Credits
Sedekah Benih Team
Tegar Pratama, Djuli Pamungkas, Reksi Muhamad Sidik, Raphael Raymond Rene R, Arsya Ardiansyah, Della Sabarini, Gina, Adlil, Thoriq Firdaus, Reja Hilman Suwandana, Endira F Julianda, Roni, Gustar Brata
Communities
Komunitas Masagi, The Power Of Emak Emak, Puzzle Indonesia, Kuya Gaya, Srikandi Pasundan
Partners
Goethe-Institut Bandung, Look Who Is Talking Project, Project Seven and A Half
Acknowledgments
Our family, Driving The Human production team, Goethe-Institut Bandung, Rakarsa Foundation, Buruan Sae, Masagi Community, Wangunsari News, Sesama, Saujana Doc, Female Plus, Samahita, Srikandi Pasundan, Komuji, Puzzle, Sanggar Seni Rupa Kontemporer, Dapur Musafir, All Participants in Bandung and Berlin, and all tiis leungeun in Bandung.
