ROOTS

Gus Dark is a Balinese illustrator and social activist whose works speak louder than words. Born in East Bali during the dry season of 1982, he has spent decades using art as a tool for environmental, social, and anti-corruption advocacy. From creating his own cartoon character Mang Ogel to co-founding Art Against Corruption – Bali, Gus has collaborated with Greenpeace, Sungai Watch, KPK, Pulitzer Center, and more. His journey has taken him from street exhibitions in Indonesia to art shows in Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.S. Whether it’s through murals, comics, or workshops, Gus brings bold visuals and strong messages into public spaces. Today, he continues to spark conversations through DARKADE Propaganda, his personal platform for visual activism — reminding us that art is not just to be seen, but to be felt and acted on.

Gus Dark adalah ilustrator dan aktivis sosial asal Bali yang karyanya berbicara lebih lantang daripada kata-kata. Lahir di Bali Timur pada musim kemarau tahun 1982, ia telah menghabiskan puluhan tahun menggunakan seni sebagai alat untuk advokasi lingkungan, sosial, dan anti-korupsi. Mulai dari menciptakan karakter kartunnya sendiri, Mang Ogel, hingga ikut mendirikan Art Against Corruption – Bali, Gus telah berkolaborasi dengan Greenpeace, Sungai Watch, KPK, Pulitzer Center, dan banyak lagi.

Perjalanan seninya telah membawanya dari pameran jalanan di Indonesia hingga pertunjukan seni di Singapura, Swiss, dan Amerika Serikat. Baik melalui mural, komik, maupun lokakarya, Gus menghadirkan visual yang kuat dan pesan yang menggugah di ruang publik. Saat ini, ia terus memicu percakapan melalui DARKADE Propaganda, platform pribadinya dalam aktivisme visual, yang mengingatkan kita bahwa seni tidak hanya untuk dilihat, tetapi juga untuk dirasakan dan ditindaklanjuti.

Michael Schindhelm is a German-born Swiss author, filmmaker, curator, and cultural consultant, known for his multifaceted contributions to the arts. He served as director and artistic director of Theater Basel from 1996 to 2006, was the Founder of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in 2008, and general director of the Berlin Opera Foundation from 2005 to 2007. His career includes awards such as the Bavarian Theater Prize in 1999 and 2001, the Herbert Quandt Media Prize, and the German Business Film Prize for his 2022 documentary A Vaccine at the Speed of Light (Projekt BioNTech). Schindhelm studied Quantum Chemistry in the USSR and has worked at the Academy of Sciences in Berlin and universities in Zurich, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Moscow. He has authored fiction and non-fiction books including Robert’s Journey, Lavapolis, Dubai Speed, and Novalis 2029. His films include Song from the Steppe in 2004, Bird's Nest in 2008, The Chinese Lives of Uli Sigg in 2016, and In the Mood for Art in 2023, about the M+ Museum in Hong Kong. In 2024, he created the immersive art series Bids for Survival in Basel and the film ROOTS, which was later presented in Bali in 2025. In 2025, he produced the multimedia show AFTER THE DELUGE, a speculative scenario on global climate collapse, exhibited in Basel.

Michael Schindhelm adalah penulis, pembuat film, kurator, dan konsultan budaya berkebangsaan Swiss kelahiran Jerman, dikenal karena kontribusinya yang multifaset dalam dunia seni. Ia menjabat sebagai direktur dan direktur artistik Theater Basel dari 1996 hingga 2006, menjadi pendiri Dubai Culture & Arts Authority pada 2008, serta direktur umum Berlin Opera Foundation dari 2005 hingga 2007. Kariernya mencakup berbagai penghargaan, termasuk Bavarian Theater Prize pada 1999 dan 2001, Herbert Quandt Media Prize, serta German Business Film Prize untuk film dokumenternya tahun 2022, A Vaccine at the Speed of Light (Projekt BioNTech). Schindhelm menempuh studi Kimia Kuantum di Uni Soviet dan pernah bekerja di Academy of Sciences di Berlin serta di berbagai universitas di Zurich, Hong Kong, Singapura, dan Moskow. Ia menulis buku fiksi dan nonfiksi, termasuk Robert’s Journey, Lavapolis, Dubai Speed, dan Novalis 2029. Karya filmnya antara lain Song from the Steppe (2004), Bird’s Nest (2008), The Chinese Lives of Uli Sigg (2016), dan In the Mood for Art (2023), yang mengangkat Museum M+ di Hong Kong. Pada 2024, ia menciptakan seri seni imersif Bids for Survival di Basel dan film ROOTS, yang kemudian dipresentasikan di Bali pada 2025. Pada 2025, ia memproduksi pertunjukan multimedia AFTER THE DELUGE, sebuah skenario spekulatif tentang keruntuhan iklim global yang dipamerkan di Basel.