How to Pin Down Smoke

Afterall is excited to announce the publication of the fifteenth book in the Exhibition Histories series: How to Pin Down Smoke: ruangrupa since 2000.

How to Pin Down Smoke is an expansive guide to ruangrupa and their singular and multifaceted practice. Formed in Jakarta in 2000 against a background of authoritarianism, economic crisis and youth movements, ruangrupa is an art initiative whose work playfully subverts traditional art- and exhibition-making, offering a living model of collective organisation, sustainable institution-building and ways of relating to one another. 

Through new commissions, interviews and extensive archival documentation, this publication explores how ruangrupa’s 25-year history expands understandings of “art”, “exhibition” and “publics”, integrating elements of popular culture, media technology and contemporary urban life.

The 508-page publication is among Afterall's most substantial and ambitious projects to date and generously illustrated in full colour with over 1100 archival and artwork images. It is collectively edited by Wing Chan, Arianna Mercado and David Morris, with contributions by artists, cultural workers, curators, editors, researchers, activists and scholars, including Ronny Agustinus, Leonhard Bartolomeus, Melani Budianta, Wing Chan, chitarum, Ade Darmawan, Özge Ersoy, Charles Esche, Nuraini Juliastuti, Abidin Kusno, Umi Lestari, Arianna Mercado, Ugeng T. Moetidjo, David Morris, farid rakun, Gesyada Siregar, Ibrahim Soetomo, Enin Supriyanto, David Teh, The Secret Agents, Mahardika Yudha, Ardi Yunanto and many others.

The editors offer our heartfelt thanks to all the contributors—including book designer Pedro Cid Proença and copy editor Deirdre O’Dwyer—as well as ruangrupa and Gudskul friends for their generosity throughout the project. We also wish to acknowledge the support of Afterall colleagues Elisa Adami and Adeena Mey. And we wish ruangrupa a very Happy Birthday!

How to Pin Down Smoke will be celebrated with a series of gatherings in Jakarta, London, Hong Kong, Manila and other locations in 2025–26, details to be announced.

How to Pin Down Smoke is published in partnership with Asia Art Archive; the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College; documenta Institut; and the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, University of Gothenburg. 

The Exhibition Histories series is distributed by Koenig Books (Europe) and Artbook | Distributed Art Publishers (outside of Europe).

Afterall is a research centre based at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.