Short Bio

Benny Widyo (b. 1993), a photographer, designer, and curator. In 2019, along with Pendulum Collective, he works on an art project titled Rest in Fear that was exhibited at Biennale Jogja XV. After that, in late 2019, Benny initiated Gulung Tukar, a multidisciplinary cultural art collective that domicile in Tulungagung, Indonesia. This collective got funding from the Next Generation Program 2020 by Prince Claus Fund. In 2020, Benny worked on collaborative project titled Clickbite for Karya Normal Baru – Biennale Makassar. In 2021-2022, he acts as artistic director of Biennale Jatim IX that uses decentralization format, their programs spread in 38 cities. Now, Benny lives and works in Tulungagung & Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He concern in the social, collectivism, and equality issues. His recent cultural activities focus in the development of cultural arts ecosystem, especially in the rural area.

Member of @pendulum.id

Coordinator of @gulung.tukar

Education

2010-2016

Indonesia Institute of the Arts of Yogyakarta – Majoring Photography

2018-2023

Gadjah Mada University (Post-Graduate)
– Majoring Media & Cultural Studies

Exhibition

2023

Pekan Kebudayaan Nasional 2023, Galeri Nasional Indonesia (Colletive – Gulung Tukar)

SUKA Photography Exhibiton, Kelas Pagi Kediri

2022

Erlangga Art Awards 2022 Goes to Jogja!, Langgeng Art Foundation  (Collective – Gulung Tukar)

Erlangga Art Awards 2022 – Erlangga
Installation Festival, National Museum of
Indonesia (Collective – Gulung Tukar)
— Silver Award

2020

Clickbite @clickbite.project – #KaryaNormalBaru Makassar Biennale x Jakarta Biennale x Biennale Jogja (In Collaboration with Christian Dwiky Sirait)

Jejak Demokrasi Pemuda Jogja, Archives Exhibition of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Virtual Exhibition

Rest in Fear #3 Mural Collaboration Project with Malang Mural Family (MMF) and Excris dkk. (Tulungagung) – part of Biennale Jatim 8 (Collective – Pendulum)

2019

Biennale Jogja XV – Equator #5, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (Collective – Pendulum) 

Pameran Platform Perupa Muda – PraBiennale Jogja XV – Equator #5, Pusat Kebudayaan Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (Collective – Pendulum)

2016

Theirs Mine | Solo Exhibition, Galeri R. J. Katamsi, Bantul, Indonesia

2015

Sightseeing | Group Exhibiton, Galeri IFI-LIP, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Connect with Known, Unknown, and Others | Group Exhibition, Ruang Mes 56, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2014

Nothing Ordinary | Group Exhibition, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Curatorial, Programming, Managing

2023

Festival Director of Nyawang Swara #3

Curator of Aftermath: Afterglow by Suddenly Movement / May 2023

Curator of The Trees & The Wires – an Art Project & Residency by Gulung Tukar / Mar-June 2023

2022

Curator of Selasar Seni Daha 22 – Flowers & Blooms – Radar Kediri / 22-23 Dec 2022

Curator of Constructive Form – Gulung Tukar / 20 Nov – 30 Dec 2022

Artistic Director of Biennale Jatim IX / The 9th of East Java Biennale (January 2021 – June 2022)

2021

Team Coordinator Gutu x BJIX – 4 Programs of Biennale Jatim IX – Gulung Tukar, Tulungagung, Indonesia

Curator – Jejak Laku, Tidak Baku | Archive & Artwork Showcase | 3-11 Dec 2021 – Gulung Tukar, Tulungagung, Indonesia

Curator & Team Coordinator – Layar Berkembang, Kemudi Diputar | Exhibition , Screening and Programs | 1 – 11 April 2021  – Gulung Tukar, Tulungagung, Indonesia

2020

Curator & Team Coordinator – Buka Kunci, Tangkap Layar | Archiving Projects & Collaborative Performance | 1 Oct 2020 – 1 Dec 2020  – Gulung Tukar, Tulungagung, Indonesia

2019

Curator & Team Coordinator – Turunkan Jangkar, Kembangkan Layar | Photo Exhibition, Screening, and Daily Programs | Biennale Jatim 8 |  27 Dec 2019 – 12 Jan 2020 – Gulung Tukar, Tulungagung, Indonesia

2017

Jury of Photography Competition – Festival Bonorowo Menulis 2017

2016

Editor-in-Chief 031 | 12 03 16 Post Event-Catalog – ISBN 978-979-8242-91-5

2014

Artistic Coordinator KITa Festival at GOR Tri Dharma,Tulungagung

Experience, Participation, Volunteering

2023-2024

Hitting Pause: Examining Purpose and Practice — Curated Conference, Meeting Point 2024 – Perspectives From The Grassroots by Mekong Cultural Hub – Hanoi, Vietnam 21-23 March 2024

Visual Communication Designer & Photographer of Bebunyian 2023

Visual Communication Designer  Orasis Art Space (Aug ’23 – Feb ’24)

2022

Speaker at Simposium Khatutlistiwa 2022 “Kuat Akar, Kuat Tanah” Biennale Jogja

2021

Creative Designer at Pixelfurst (remote) [Augt 18 – June 21]

2020

Volunteer Solidaritas Pangan Jogja (Jogja Food Solidarity) – Dapur 8 & Zine #1 Contributor

Participant of Visual Arts Critical Writing Masterclass with Bambang Bujono, Jakarta Arts Council

Participant of Art Management Workshop – Shifting Realities

2019

Documentation Volunteer Kelas Inspirasi Purbalingga #2

Participant of Exhibition Making Workshop for Young Artists – LIR Space 

2018

Documentation Volunteer Kelas Inspirasi Sukabumi #3

Art Director – Pixelfurst (Full time) [August 17 – July 18]

Documentation Volunteer Kelas Inspirasi Tasikmalaya #5

2017

Documentation Volunteer Kelas Inspirasi Tulungagung #5

2016

Documentation Volunteer Kelas Inspirasi Tulungagung #4

2015

Participant Documentary Photography Workshop with Yannick Cormier – Printemp Francais 2015