As part of Future of Work, Collective Works joined the Tera Kota Triennale at Jatiwangi Art Factory (JaF) in July 2024, immersing themselves in the community’s rich traditions and its rapidly changing landscape.

Jatiwangi, once a ceramics village, now hosts sprawling factories producing goods for global markets. As industrialization transforms the area, JaF raises critical questions: What happens when these factories disappear? How can the community sustain itself?

A sketch of a mobile “wandering roof” emerged from this exploration—a structure crafted with local tiles to serve as a space for dialogue and reflection. Rooted in JaF’s traditions, such as Gotong Royong — the ritual of collectively moving and caring for roofs as an act of communal solidarity — the design symbolizes resilience and connection to the land. This adaptable, mobile structure fosters collaboration and conversations.

Together with JaF, Peter Zuiderwijk, Godelieve Spaas, and Olga Mink visited tile factories and studied historical structures like “Gardu” shelters and “Saung Barns,” uncovering the region’s cultural and material heritage to inform future designs.

An article about our visit written by Godelieve Spaas for Pari Perspectives can be found here

Pari Perspectives can be purchased here