100% Different and Free

Artist: Respecta Street Art Gallery
Location: Indonesia and Singapore
Year: 2011
Researcher: Stella Prasetya

Berbeda dan Merdeka 100% (Different and Free 100%) is a socio cultural movement that began on February 13th 2011 in West Java. Initiated by Respecta Street Art Gallery on going movement involves series of protest with the use of street art that spread over twenty Indonesian cities and Singapore within one day as a reaction toward a series of religious killings. This movement is an open invitation that acts as a call to people in Indonesia in order to respect differences and practise tolerance. The movement emerged as a response to interfaith violence to the minorities in Indonesia, such as the attack on Ahmadiyah Islamic sect members, and fire setting on churches in Central Java, Indonesia. These religious conflict that threatened minorities has been occurred across the country; as part of a democratic nation, this movement is a state of declaration to refuse to remain silent of different act of violence both symbolic and physically that recently occurred.

The aim is to spread the key message of interfaith tolerance and human right as a reminder for the society that a diversity value has to be respected as a ground principle for a democratic nation. This movement has produced an enormous impact in society in spite of their inherently ephemeral works that easily to be replaced on the following day. Posters and stickers are the form of expanded medium that were used apart from graffiti and mural. Furthermore Berbeda dan Merdeka 100% (Different and Free 100%) is the first form of street art that transformed into a social movement in Indonesia. The impact has been developed particularly amongst the youth in Indonesia, with street art as the vital component that contributes in spreading the message throughout the country. This public engagement activity has enabled them to express their concern of the issues vigorously through popular culture. The movement has been broadly organised and coordinated online with the use of website and social media within the street art community.

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The movement held simultaneously to convey the vision that living together in diversity harmoniously is possible to achieve, therefore the concept of ‘Diversity’ is something that needs to be reminded continuously. This type of street art movement has a mission to make a good use of public spaces that serves public issues; since public spaces have a potential to be display art that can be use as a tool to raise social awareness. Respecta Street Art Gallery convinced that visual histories that can be found in public could contribute to the development of political thought and cultural consciousness of the society.

The aim is to spread the key message of interfaith tolerance and human right as a reminder for the society that a diversity value has to be respected as a ground principle for a democratic nation. This movement has produced an enormous impact in society in spite of their inherently ephemeral works that easily to be replaced on the following day. Posters and stickers are the form of expanded medium that were used apart from graffiti and mural. Furthermore Berbeda dan Merdeka 100% (Different and Free 100%) is the first form of street art that transformed into a social movement in Indonesia. The impact has been developed particularly amongst the youth in Indonesia, with street art as the vital component that contributes in spreading the message throughout the country. This public engagement activity has enabled them to express their concern of the issues vigorously through popular culture. The movement has been broadly organised and coordinated online with the use of website and social media within the street art community.

Initiated by a group of street artists that has concerned about diversity issue in Indonesia, Respecta Street Art Gallery has made an open call for public and street artists to respond to the issue and voice their message with the use of street art as the medium. The result was documented and shared online with the use of each artists social media account to spread the message broadly.

All copyright belongs to Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University.