Exhibition View: Bubba Bubble, Yokohama, Japan
Hot Water Only for Hard Worker
Photo and video
Variable Dimensions
2024
This work is my response to an exhibition space located in a public area, specifically a public bath with a very comfortable hot water pool. Being in this space takes me on a journey back to memories of scenes from Japanese films, where workers unwind by immersing themselves in hot water. These scenes seem to represent a slice of the routine of the working class in Japan.
But what about the working class in Indonesia or those working for Japanese companies? As someone living among a working-class family, I explored this narrative through the stories of those close to me. The demands for discipline, hard work, long hours, multitasking, taiso, and punishment are phrases I often hear. With strict regulations, Japan has made Indonesian workers obedient and compliant, even since the time of their occupation in Indonesia.
Arief Budiman 