Hydrosocially Engaged Art: Reimagining Human-Water Relationships through Artistic Practice on the Cikapundung River, Bandung, Indonesia

This research proposes a conceptual framework for hydrosocially engaged art, situating artistic practice within the hydrosocial cycle—a dynamic interplay of water, human societies, and socio-political forces. Focusing on the Cikapundung River in Bandung, Indonesia, the research foregrounds water as an active socio-natural entity shaped by geological, cultural, and colonial entanglements. Drawing from critical geography and political ecology, it investigates how contemporary art can visualise, intervene in, and reconfigure human-water relationships. The inquiry unfolds across two interwoven strands: Reimagining the Stream and Engaging the Social. The former explores material and symbolic representations of water, exemplified by Aras Tarum, which incorporates indigo dye and river water to evoke colonial histories, and Aras Putih, where immersed 35mm film is transformed by the river’s agency. The latter strand emphasises socially situated practices such as Susur Baur, a community-driven riverwalk that fosters exchanges between artists, residents, and activists, addressing urban ecological degradation through embodied movement, dialogue, and reflective fieldwork. Ultimately, this research positions artistic engagement as a critical method for reimagining the relational dynamics of the hydrosocial cycle, foregrounding the role of art in shaping more inclusive and ecological urban imaginaries.