While train stations are normally considered a place of transit, SCENIC Art Station is set to change the way we see the space, one public transport hub at a time. Starting 27 December, they are set to take over BNI City Station (Sudirman Baru) at the heart of Jakarta with a large-scale installation by artist Wisnu Ajitama, interactive artwork, and a creative market. While the creative market and interactive artwork will be running exclusively on the opening weekend (27-29 December), the installation will remain a permanent fixture at the station.
The year-end opening week allows for the initiative to attract local commuters, domestic tourists, and international visitors who are in Jakarta for the holiday season. Sudirman Baru BNI City Station is a vital hub for local commuters using the Jabodetabek KRL Line, serving up to 1 million passengers daily. The station is also the final stop for the airport train, which takes passengers to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
SCENIC Art Station was born out of a collaboration between design studio Nusae, SenyuMuseum, a creative agency with a focus on rethinking public museum experience, and PT. KAI, the nation’s railway company. In their kickoff project, SCENIC presents a large-scale installation by artist Wisnu Ajitama and curated by Mona Liem, titled “Akar Perjalanan” (translates to “the roots of a journey”). The outdoor artwork is placed around the “BNI City Station” signage, disrupting the everyday view with a giant, dangling depiction of roots and flowers. The roots represent the history of a city, while flowers represent new possibilities and futures, making it a timely reflection for year-end viewing.
Ajitama, a Yogyakarta-based artist, is no stranger to public space disruption. His works often appear in unexpected places, including forests, mountains, and rivers, blending in with nature as they explore relationships between humans and nature. One of his most recent large-scale works uses paper as the main material to form intertwined roots and trees and was exhibited at Art & Bali in September.
Wilbert Deil, SenyuMuseum co-founder, says, “SenyuMuseum was created to facilitate an inclusive art experience that is both educational and enjoyable. We feel that public spaces can function as a place to experience art that is inviting to the public. This is a belief that we share with our friends at Nusae. We do hope that SCENIC can reach many people in relatable ways, and we are grateful that PT. KAI welcomes the idea and agrees to be our collaborator in this ongoing project. In the long run, we hope to continue disrupting other public places across the country.”
During the opening week of SCENIC Art Station (27-29 December), visitors were treated to an Art Market, an initiative that celebrates the local creative industry players. Beyond a retail experience, the market aims to function as a third space where communities gather, and a public transportation hub is considered part of a current urban lifestyle.
Initiated in collaboration with the Indonesian Creative Economy Ministry, the Art Market presents 10 leading IPs and their creative portfolios inside train carriages, while a curated selection of creative Indonesian SMEs display their products inside scaffolding-based installations. SenyuMuseum and Samitrayasa Design designed the unique booth installation, which made its debut at MBloc Design Week 2023.
True to their vision of creating an inclusive art experience, SCENIC is collaborating with Connected Art Platform and J+Art Awards to create an interactive installation at the open space of Sudirman Baru BNI City Station. The installation is designed to be accessible for all ages and accompanied by a drawing station supported by COPIC Japan and Stoke Paint.