SDSB: Yogjakarta-Based Art Hawker Stall to Hack the Art World’s Exclusivity

SDSB, which stands for Sumbangsih Dermawan Seni Berhadiah (Co-Operated Art Prize and Patronage), is an initiative led by artist Fajar Riyanto that began at the 2024 Yogyakarta Art Week. Yogyakarta itself is a city and province in Central Java, Indonesia, that boasts a Special Region title as it is one of the last Indonesian provinces with an active monarchy. The city is also home to a large student population due to the presence of one of the country’s top-ranked public universities and largest art school. Hence, with plenty of young talents around, SDSB began as an initiative where emerging artists could break into the art market, which has been known to be driven by connections instead of merit.

SDSB takes the form of a warung. These are small make-shift kiosks often found in the streets of Asia selling everything from snacks, to lottery tickets and newspapers. The initiative has appropriated the warung format to instead sell works by young emerging artists. Aside from that, the SDSB warung stall also sells lottery tickets, priced at just IDR 50,000, the equivalent of USD 3, where participants can win works from established artists such as Restu Ratyaningtyas. This is an element of the project that was without doubt added to garner the public’s attention towards works by young artists. This is why the Sumbangsih Dermawan Seni Berhadiah (SDSB) Warung Stall is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Reduced Inequalities.

The initiative is also tracked in a website and Instagram account to allow people to purchase works and lottery tickets sold at SDSB online. Future plans for the website also include an open comment section where anyone can leave constructive criticism of the works being sold. This allows the platform to engage with its audiences by asking everyday people to think critically of the arts, raising people’s appreciation of local artists and their pieces.

SDSB’s innovative approach to democratizing the art world is a refreshing challenge to its exclusivity, offering emerging artists in Yogyakarta a platform to showcase their talents. By adopting the familiar format of a warung stall and incorporating lottery tickets featuring works by established artists, SDSB draws public attention to young, local creators and makes art accessible to a broader audience. The initiative fosters community engagement by encouraging critical dialogue about art and raising appreciation for local talent. SDSB exemplifies how creative, grassroots solutions can empower artists and dismantle barriers within the art market.

Find out more about Sumbangsih Dermawan Seni Berhadiah (SDSB) and their initiatives on their website www.dermawanseni.id or Instagram @dermawan.seni.