Silam Seberang: Spatial Ethnography Exhibition 2026
April – May 2026
We are pleased to invite students, scholars, researchers, and practitioners to participate as exhibitors in Silam Seberang: Spatial Ethnography Exhibition 2026. This exhibition is organized by a collaborative research team from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and the University of Southern California (USC).
The exhibition explores the paradox of Sumba as a site of rapid transformation where luxury tourism developments coexist with structural poverty, food insecurity, and migration. Through a spatial ethnographic approach, Silam Seberang presents layered narratives of economy, food systems, and everyday life.
Visitors will be guided through three curatorial zones: The Mirage, reflecting constructed images of beauty and tourism; The Crack, revealing data and lived realities; and The Departure, presenting narratives of migration and loss. Together, these zones invite critical reflection on how space, economy, and identity are continuously reshaped.
We invite contributors to present research-based works, visual documentation, and ethnographic materials related to Sumba. This exhibition aims to create a collaborative space for dialogue, bringing forward grounded perspectives on people, place, and transformation.
Who Can Participate?
This call is open to individuals who wish to contribute to the exhibition, hereafter referred to as exhibitors. Eligible contributors include:
- Students and researchers with work related to Sumba
- Practitioners in ethnography, visual studies, and spatial research
- Individuals interested in issues of economic transformation, food systems, and migration
Submission Details
- Each exhibitor may submit one (1) work (maximum size A2)
- Works must be based on research or field documentation
- Fragile materials must be properly secured for delivery
- Production and printing costs are the responsibility of the exhibitor
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: 3 April 2026
- Announcement of Selected Exhibitors: 10 April 2026
- Artwork Submission: 17–18 April 2026
- Exhibition Dates: 20 April – 1 May 2026
Location
Kantin Sastra FIB, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Spatial Ethnography 
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