Reza Afisina, Artist, APT7
Success to me is being yourself ...
A not-for-profit artists initiative, ruangrupa was founded in 2000 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Renowned for socially engaged projects that strive to support the progress of art ideas within the urban context and the larger scope of culture, ruangrupa is exhibiting a mini museum of memorabilia as part of The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. As part of the installation, the collective has conceived a fictional, and now defunct, Indonesian rock band dubbed The Kuda, creating ephemera reminiscent of the band’s connection to the local Brisbane underground music scene of the 1970s. ruangrupa has worked with Brisbane-based artists, musicians and enthusiasts to recreate The Kuda’s graphic imagery, songs and anecdotal accounts. The Weekend Edition took five with one of the artists, Reza Afisina, to chat weekends in the lead up to APT7 opening this weekend.
How do you like to start your weekend?
Mostly my weekends in Jakarta start with waking up and having lots of mineral water to drink, since Jakarta is very humid. But while I’m here in Brisbane, after drinking lots of water, I’m ready for a big Australian breakfast.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Cook. I like to try out new recipes and make breakfast for my wife and kids.
How do you like to unwind?
I like to have a long cold shower to unwind.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Cleaning the house and cooking for my family.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Go to the golf club to play with ruangrupa members.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Check out some cinema with my wife and kids.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Going to a wet-traditional market or fish market and taking my kids there to teach them about the market situation, the activities, the social interaction, as well getting to know the name of the ingredients.
What are you reading at the moment?
What I’m reading at the moment in Brisbane is Pig City and a great Australian book about Mary Gilmore.
What inspires you?
My family, my neighbourhood and my great friends at ruangrupa.
What was your childhood dream?
To become a good artist.
What has been your greatest achievement?
So far, it is becoming a father to my two awesome kids.
What is success to you?
Success to me is being yourself, in the position you’ve gained, in society and around you. And success is doing good deeds for society and my family and friends.
What are your words of wisdom?
‘Let us go in; the fog is rising’– borrowed from an episode of The X-Files.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … In the kitchen
Relax … In the shower
Dine … Street food vendors
Indulge … Playing with my wife and kids
Shop … At wet-traditional markets and bargain hunting at a secondhand market
Catch-up … At a coffee shop nearby my neighbourhood
Be Inspired … By meeting my neighbour and doing something in my neighbourhood
