Dialog Lensa Creative Exchange: Ashleigh Campbell’s Visit to Yogyakarta, March 2025
In March 2025, Ashleigh Campbell, CEO of NorthSite Contemporary Arts, embarked on a research and relationship-building journey to Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiarja (PSBK) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, marking the first chapter in a new International Creative Exchange.
This cross-cultural initiative, supported through Artslink’s Regional // Regional (which Ashleigh and Doni Maulistya of PSBK have been part of since 2021) laid the foundations for a potential multi-year collaborative project between NorthSite and PSBK, aimed at creating lasting artistic dialogues between Australia and Indonesia.
PSBK is a renowned arts center located in Yogyakarta. Established in 1978 by the esteemed Indonesian artist Bagong Kussudiardja, PSBK serves as a vibrant hub for artistic expression and cultural preservation. The center is dedicated to supporting the continuity of Indonesian cultural heritage through active artistic practices, fostering a dynamic environment where artists and the community engage in collaborative learning and creative exploration.
Like NorthSite, PSBK offers a diverse array of programs, including workshops, performances, and exhibitions, that encompass various art forms such as dance, theater, music, and visual arts. The center’s commitment to nurturing artistic talent and promoting cultural dialogue has made it a significant institution in the Indonesian arts landscape. In 2024, PSBK unveiled a revitalised, architectually -designed campus. It’s incredible facilities located with the tranquil village of Kembaran, Bantul, are nesttled alongside a bamboo-fringed river and sugar cane fields, with it’s dance pavilions and architectually-designed collection of specialist-arts buildings including dancehalls, theatre spaces and recording studios opening out to the surrounding village.
Building Relationships and Strengthening Collaborations
The visit began with a warm team-wide welcome at PSBK. The day kicked off with a Slametan Sederhana (a traditional welcome ceremony), followed by a comprehensive tour of the PSBK facilities. Ashleigh’s interactions and pre-planning with PSBK team members Jeannie Park (Executive Director), Doni Maulistya (Vice-Chair) , Rheisnayu Cyntara (Research & Development Div. Manager) had set the stage for an intensive week-long exploration of introductions across town and time to explore shared artistic values, goals and potential project in person. These hybrid discussions both online and in-person, focused on how best to connect the communities of Cairns, Australia, and Yogyakarta through art.
A key highlight of the first day was a deep dive into the Dialog Lensa program which Doni has directed through PSBK since 2020, and will now be expanded to serve as the cornerstone of future creative exchange between Australian and Indonesian artists.
Ashleigh and the PSBK team explored past production structures, the role of photography in storytelling, local connections, global issues, and creative practice. The exchange platform the teams are building will focus on providing opportunities for artists from Cairns and Yogyakarta to experiment and express through new media, bridging gaps between traditional photography and innovative multimedia projections. This phase of the exchange emphasised the collaborative nature of the program, looking at the intersection of artists working across disciplines.
Visiting Yogyakarta’s Creative Hubs
Throughout the visit, Ashleigh had the opportunity to explore Yogyakarta’s rich artistic ecosystem. Across the week she toured to Kelas Pagi photographic collective and institution meeting Gevi Noviyanti, Sokong!, independent photobook publishers run by Prasetya Yudha & Kurnia Yaumil and their new photography book store, and Ruang Mes 56, a longstanding creative space and gallery dedicated to photography and visual culture plus Ethnictro Music-Education Foundation and Krack! printmaking collective. These visits allowed her to engage with local photographers, musicians, thinkers and creatives, whose work has been influential in shaping the arts scene in Yogyakarta. Meeting with photographers and other previous Dialog Lensa collaborators provided invaluable insights into past production values and approaches as well as insight into the diverse ways in which photography intersects with global issues, and how these ideas are manifested in local art practices.
The second day of the visit included a presentation on the Dialog Lensa program’s international potential, featuring the works of Ulet Ifansasti, a renowned photographer, and Jennar Kidjing, a musician. These conversations revealed the personal outcomes of participation in previous Dialog Lensa projects and the outcomes of the cross-disciplinary collaboration, as both artists discussed their creative processes and the impact of the activity on their practice.
Designing the Future of the Exchange
As the visit progressed, discussions turned to the future of Dialog Lensa. On March 13, Ashleigh participated in a strategic session focused on the design of the Dialog Lensa International Edition, which aims to further expand the program’s reach and impact. The session, which involved Doni, Jeannie, and Tara from PSBK, delved into the opportunities and challenges of scaling the program internationally. They brainstormed ideas for future editions, focusing on the importance of sustainable collaboration and the ways in which photography and multimedia can be used to provoke thought and spark meaningful dialogue.
The NorthSite Public Presentation marked a significant milestone in the exchange, with over 50 local creatives turning out to hear about NorthSite and potential links between the localities. Ashleigh shared NorthSite’s vision and history, engaging in rich discussion with the cohort of local artists in a discussion about future collaborative projects. This presentation highlighted the core values of the exchange: creative exploration, networking, and the provocation of thought through art.
Acknowledging Support
The success of this exchange was made possible through the generous support of Asialink Arts, The Yulgibar Foundation, Circle 5 Foundation, and Konfir Kabo and Monica Lim. Their contributions have been integral in ensuring the continued growth and sustainability of this cross-cultural collaboration, and their support enables artists to continue engaging in meaningful dialogue across borders.
Looking Ahead
Ashleigh’s visit to PSBK in Yogyakarta was just the first step in what promises to be a lasting and impactful partnership. Doni will travel to Cairns in a fortnight to participate in a similar program with introductions to local creatives and to solidify plans for future collaborative projects, including Dialog Lensa #5. The momentum and relationship-strengthening generated during this visit ensures that there is a solid foundation, aligned values and committment to together produce the first international iteration of Dialog Lensa – a collaborative and responsive platform for artistic exploration, and strengthening connections between artists and audiences in both Australia and Indonesia.
For more images of the Cairns x Yogyakarta Creative Exchange Part 1:
PSBK NS Research and Development in Yogyakarta March 2025_resized