Indonesian cinema visionary Garin Nugroho speaks about his engagement with Indonesian culture, history, and social issues throughout his groundbreaking career. From his roots in documentary filmmaking and his award-winning narrative features, to his work in mentoring new talent as well as preserving traditional art forms, Nugroho’s tireless efforts have established him as one of the most important cultural figures in Indonesia. Alongside his collaborators, musician Kasimyn of Gabber Modus Operandi, composer and ethnomusicologist I Wayan Sudirana, and vocalists Dinar Rizkianti and Gusti Putu Sudarta, Nugroho will also discuss his latest cine-concert project, Samsara (2024).

The talk will be moderated in English by M+ Curator of Moving Image Chanel Kong.

Garin Nugroho (b. 1961, Indonesia) is a highly acclaimed filmmaker, writer, and producer who was born in Jogjakarta and completed his studies in Jakarta. Known for championing Indonesian culture and raising awareness on the country’s social and political issues, Nugroho has made and produced dozens of award-winning features, documentaries, essay films, and shorts, and has also founded several arts and film festivals in Indonesia. His work often incorporates a variety of cultural practices and disciplines, including theatre, painting, installations, puppetry, live performance, and writing.

Gabber Modus Operandi is an Indonesian musical duo formed by Kasimyn and Ican Harem. The group is drawn to intense sounds that take after several genres, such as gabber, techno, grindcore, and footwork, as well as Indonesian music styles such as the trance/dance-themed jathilan and dangdut koplo, a subgenre of popular Indonesian music. Fusing traditional Indonesian music and Balinese folk traditions with an improvisational spirit and humour, Gabber Modus Operandi recently collaborated with Icelandic singer-musician Björk in the album Fossora (2022).

I Wayan Sudirana (b. 1980, Indonesia) is a renowned composer, ethnomusicologist, performer, educator, and founder-director of the musical ensemble Gamelan Yuganada. A graduate from the University of British Columbia, Canada, Sudirana has studied ancient Balinese music along with several world music traditions, including those from Korea, Ghana, and South India. His scholarship is centred on both traditional and new Balinese gamelan music, philosophy, and theory.