Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub

Alana Malika

The Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub delights and provokes thought in equal parts with memes that poke fun at the art scene in Indonesia and beyond. We speak to the person behind the Instagram account to find out more.

Why did you start the Instagram account?

I started Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub because I was interested in framing artistic discourse within a humorous context. I wanted to talk about topics that occupy day-to-day conversations in the art world, including gossip, professional struggles, criticisms, and everything in between. When I created this account, the conversation surrounding art collectives seemed to go in circles. Initially, this account was supposed to be a dedicated space to talk about collectives through memes. However as time went on, our audience grew and so did the scope of our account. Instead of only focusing on collectives, it now covers various aspects of the art world and their intersections.

Who is in the Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub team?

Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub is run by one person, and people usually refer to me as “Admin” or “Mimin”. I have not revealed my identity on Instagram, but people in my social circle know that I created and manage the account. Unlike before, I am open about my role behind the account in my personal life. However, I choose to remain anonymous to the public because I think the account is more enjoyable if people do not know who is working behind the scenes.

What is the process of creating a meme? You can describe it specific to a particular meme.

The process of creating memes for this page is quite random. I usually start by adapting meme formats that have been circulating to include relevant art content. Sometimes, I make a set of memes in advance that I publish over the span of a few days. There are also times when I make a meme as a direct reaction to a significant event. For example, I made memes on the OPPO Art Jakarta Virtual 2020 while it was running, NFTs while it was trending on Twitter, and many more.

Art Jakarta and Sims.

Do you have a meme you are most proud of and why?

Personally, I really liked the first meme I posted on this account because it captures the essence of our name, the Anti Kolektif Kolektif Klub. Some of my favourite memes are the ones I made from scratch, such as the Art Jakarta on the Sims meme or the Counterstrike meme. Besides that, the meme ‘Generasi Boom Seni Rupa Starter Pack’ has also become a favourite of mine. It felt like the first meme that was educational because of its historical nuances.

Seniman Boom Starter Pack.

What is the next goal?

Since becoming the admin behind the Twitter account @medanseni, I realised that these platforms have the potential to go beyond lighthearted rants and satire. Sometimes, I take advantage of the flexibility of the meme format to create polls, ask questions, and spread awareness while maintaining a humorous tone.

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of creating another account about the art world without using memes, perhaps under a different name and concept. Besides that, I am considering hiring a team so the account can cover more topics. I am also pretty overwhelmed making memes every day. For no specific reason, I have put it on myself to post once a day.

I am also interested in expanding to TikTok, but I am still unsure how I could navigate the platform. If someone else is able to bring Southeast Asian art to TikTok and become successful, I would be willing to help out. Or perhaps one day, I could make a meme into an NFT? I am also interested in academicfantasy.xyz, a writing residency on art memes initiated by Anathapindika Dai and Liza Markus. If they are looking to develop the project in the foreseeable future, I would be open to helping out.