sōydivision is
Sōydivision is a collaborative platform and artist collective shaped by the lived experiences of the diaspora. Initially composed predominantly of Indonesian diaspora artists in Berlin, its constellation has since expanded to include diasporic artists of the global majority (an emerging, decolonial term that recognizes the lived realities of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities who represent the majority of the world’s population) mostly based in Germany. Rooted in the complexities of displacement, identity, and cultural hybridity, Sōydivision operates at the intersection of art and activism.
Since 2017, it has curated, produced, and participated in more than 250 artistic projects across various formats. As a collaborative platform, Sōydivision has curated concert series, exhibitions, workshops, festivals, film screenings, radio and discourse programs, and residencies. As an artist group, known as Sōydivision Ensemble (SDE), they have produced experimental theater pieces, collaborative and participatory installations, performances, and multimedia publications.
Their artistic strategies emphasize socially engaged art creation, deeply rooted in grassroots and community-based practices. By fostering collective reflection, participation, and empowerment, they explore themes of catharsis, critical inquiry, and therapeutic healing—concepts they have distilled into "Diaspora Diorama: Drama and Euphoria." Through a distinctly diasporic lens, Sōydivision offers alternative perspectives on contemporary issues, using art as a means to build dialogue, reimagine belonging and coexistence, and amplify voices from the margins.
History of Sōydivision
Sōydivision was founded by Ariel William Orah, a Berlin-based Indonesian artist, musician, and cultural practitioner. The collective's roots trace back to 2014, when Ariel initiated IN/NN (Indonesian Initiative), an early attempt at creating an art collective for Indonesian diaspora artists and creatives in Berlin. IN/NN had the vision of fostering collaboration and connection among these artists, organizing various events such as concerts, collective publications, culinary and tattoo events, and film screenings. The initiative culminated in a group exhibition titled "The Equator: Slow Down the Greed" in the summer of 2014, which explored the environmental and ethical consequences of fast fashion, featuring contributions from 50 artists and collaborators. However, IN/NN disbanded in 2015 after a brief but impactful existence.
In 2016, Ariel launched Sōydivision as a sub-project under the Luftmenschen collective, a group he co-founded, consisting of diverse artists and creatives—alumni from the Design Thinking School in Potsdam—focusing on artistic, cultural, and empathy-driven art experimentation. At the same time, he developed LKW (Luftmenschen Klangwerk), another sub-project dedicated to sound art. Within these projects, Ariel experimented with merging culinary and sound art, using food and soundscapes to create narratives. When Luftmenschen disbanded in 2017, Ariel continued developing Sōydivision and LKW as independent projects, collaborating with a growing network of artists.
One of the key formats that emerged during this period was "Empathy Supper", a theatrical culinary event featuring diverse Indonesian dishes, each tied to a specific narrative. These events incorporated artistic collaborations spanning music, installations, and performances, transforming the dining experience into an immersive artistic encounter. Meanwhile, LKW evolved into a DIY record label, releasing music generated through these collaborations.
Expansion and Major Initiatives (2018-Present)
In 2018, Sōydivision launched Soy and Synth, a concert series that combined experimental music improvisation with Indonesian dining. Soy and Synth also marked the moment when Ariel began reconnecting with the latest wave of Indonesian diaspora artists and creatives, leading to various collaborations. Through co-producing the series, these artists worked together and later expanded their collaborations into many other formats. This series became their longest-running project, fostering meaningful exchanges among diasporic artists of the global majority—an emerging, decolonial term recognizing racialized communities who represent the majority of the world’s population. Soy and Synth has continued to grow, reaching its 49th edition in 2024, with support from Musicboard Berlin, facilitated by the Berlin Senate for Culture and Social Cohesion since 2022. The 2024 and 2025 editions of Soy and Synth are also supported by the Berlin Senate.
Another significant initiative was KAUM Film and Performing Art Festival, first organized in 2021 and later in 2023. Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste and Hauptstadtkulturfonds, the festival provided a platform for Indonesian and Southeast Asian film and performance practitioners, showcasing narratives from the diaspora and beyond.
Sōydivision’s current curatorial project, Mutating Kinship Lab (MKL), was launched in 2022 and continues into 2023. This initiative serves as a think tank, co-creation space, and archival platform for artist-led initiatives within the Asian diaspora in Germany. Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste, MKL’s 2022 edition focused on intergenerational artistic practices within the Asian diaspora, while the 2023 edition explored audience engagement in the post-pandemic era. MKL continues to operate as an ongoing initiative, further expanding its role as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and archival development within the Asian diaspora arts community in Germany. Annual multi-format publications from MKL document these evolving conversations.
Artistic Productions and Global Collaborations
As an artist group, Sōydivision Ensemble (SDE) has produced several experimental theater and multimedia works. Notable productions include:
As an artist group, Sōydivision Ensemble (SDE) has produced several experimental theater and multimedia works. Notable productions include:
- "Aryati" (2021) – An experimental music theater piece premiered at Uferstudios, supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
- "Kiamat" (2021) – A project supported by Musikfonds e.V., exploring apocalyptic narratives through sound and performance.
- "Akkuklturasa" (2023) – A multi-channel audio-visual installation and performance showcased at Berlin Asian Art Festival, Movingpoets Novilla, Uferstudios Berlin, Valby Kopenhagen, and Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien.
- "Tanamantra-Salamantra" – A site-specific installation and performance presented at HF Pforzheim, Documenta Fifteen, Uferstudios Berlin, and Hebbel am Ufer (HAU).
- "TAHANGUENTAR" – A cinematic sound performance premiered at Sinema Transtopia, supported by Musikfonds. More details here.
- "Stepping on Each Other's Feet" (2024) – Commissioned by SAVVY Contemporary.
Tours and International Partnerships
As a diaspora collective with a strong Indonesian foundation but expanding globally, Sōydivision actively collaborates with artistic entities in Indonesia. Notably:
As a diaspora collective predominantly composed of Indonesians, Sōydivision actively collaborates with artistic entities in Indonesia. Notably:
- In 2019 and 2022, Sōydivision and its sister collective L_KW Berlin organized two experimental music tours across five Indonesian cities, partnering with Studio Eksotika Bali, Yes No Wave Yogyakarta, Orange Cliff Bandung, Nu Art Bandung, Norrm Radio Bandung, Rubanah Jakarta, and Rumah Rawa Samarinda. These tours connected Indonesian diaspora sound artists from Berlin with local sound artists in each city, fostering cross-border artistic dialogues across Southeast Asia and beyond.
- In 2024, Sōydivision organized the Silahturami Tour in collaboration with Wildpearl Radio Singapore, Anima Art Space Manila, Lokananta Solo, and NORRM Radio (Indonesia), further strengthening artistic connections across Southeast Asia.
- In 2023, Sōydivision partnered with Rakarsa Foundation to curate LINTAS, a residency program in Bandung, Indonesia, focusing on socially and environmentally sustainable art practices. Hosted at Grey Art Gallery, Bandung, the residency challenged conventional narratives on identity, migration, and social justice, utilizing art as a tool for community building and activism. The first edition involved five artists from Berlin and was supported by Goethe-Institut Bandung, Musikfonds e.V., and the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe.
Since 2018, Sōydivision has been actively engaged in various art and cultural spaces in Berlin. It was previously based in Sari-Sari project space, Neukölln (2018-2021), and Uferstudios, Wedding
pic taken from Empathy Supper (x) Impuls Festival 2023 in Technesphere Leipzig photo by Sophie Vân Schwenke
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pic taken from SUARANTAU at Tangente St Pölten Festival 2023 in St Pölten Austria photo by Katie-Aileen Dempsey
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Pic taken from “Tanamantra - Salamantra” at Ausfern Festival - Uferstudios Berlin, 2022. Pic by Dico Baskoro
PEOPLE OF THE SOY
Projects