Resistance Murals and Spatial Politics in the Dago Elos Agrarian Conflict: A Visual Discourse Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18326/inject.v11i1.6390Keywords:
Resistance Murals, Agrarian Conflict, Visual Communication, Public Space, Dago ElosAbstract
Agrarian conflicts in the Dago Elos area, Bandung, not only take place in the realm of formal law and politics, but are also mediated through visual practices in residential spaces. This study aims to analyze how resistance murals function as a form of collective visual communication in responding to threats to citizens' living spaces. This research is expected to enrich the study of visual communication and urban resistance, especially in the context of urban agrarian conflict. The method used is a qualitative approach with visual discourse analysis, Gillian Rose, which includes the site of production, the site of the image, and the site of audiencing. The Data was obtained through focus group discussions with residents and artists, visual documentation, and analysis of four murals in the Dago Elos area. The results showed that murals are produced spontaneously, based on solidarity networks, and do not depend on formal structures. Visually, murals utilize a variety of communication strategies to claim living space and build a narrative of resistance. Murals also play a role in transforming everyday spaces into political arenas that are collectively accepted by citizens. This study concluded that murals do not merely represent agrarian conflicts, but become a medium for politicizing space and strengthening the collective identity of citizens.
References
Abram, S. (2024). Graffiti, Street Art and Murals Against the Neoliberal City: Wall-Written Dissensus. Street Art and Urban Creativity, 10(1), 54–71. https://doi.org/10.25765/sauc.v10i1.919
Adie, A. U., Utang, D. A., Idu, J. E., & Owokor, E. I. (2025). Creative Resistance: The Role of Art Activism in Advancing Social Justice. Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(5), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.37745/gjahss.2013/vol13n53041
Althusser, L. (1971). Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes Towards an Investigation). In Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays (hal. 79–88). Monthly Review Press.
CNN Indonesia. (2024). Awal Mula Sengketa Tanah Dago Elos hingga Muller Bersaudara Tersangka. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20240508092600-12-1095270/awal-mula-sengketa-tanah-dago-elos-hingga-muller-bersaudara-tersangka
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (6 ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dany, F. W. W. D. (2023). Dago Elos Melawan Tak Bisa Dikalahkan. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/dago-elos-melawan-tak-bisa-dikalahkan
Efendi, M., Pratiwi, A., Komariyah, F. S., & Kuswanti, A. (2025). Konflik Kelas dan Komunikasi Kesadaran Kolektif dalam Sengketa Lahan Dago Elos, Bandung, Jawa Barat. CoverAge: Journal of Strategic Communication, 15(2), 144–156. https://doi.org/10.35814/coverage.v15i2.8538
Efendi, M., Pratiwi, A., Muqsith, M. A., & Waluyo, L. S. (2025). Live Streaming For Your Life: How The Dago Elos Community Uses Instagram to Broadcast Their Protest for Land Rights. ASPIRATION Journal, 6(July), 17–45. https://doi.org/10.56353/aspiration.v6i1.92
Evans, G. L. (2025). Graffiti, Street Art and Ambivalence. Humanities, 14(90), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/ h14040090
Fraihat, I., & Dabashi, H. (2024). Resisting subjugation: Palestinian graffiti on the Israeli apartheid wall. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 47(13), 2707–2736. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2023.2247473
Ghifari, F. (2022). Burn the Flowers: Menambah Semaraknya Dago Elos atas Nama Solidaritas. https://kmjurnalistik.com/2022/09/burn-the-flowers-menambah-semaraknya-dago-elos-atas-nama-solidaritas/
Ke, Z. (2025). Values and challenges of participatory art in urban and community development: a 10-year systematic review. Front. Sociol, 10(September), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1571383
Lefebvre, H. (2007). The Production of Space. Blackwell Publishing.
Maharani, D. D., Addinari, S. S., & Muradi. (2025). Bandungbergerak dan Perjuangan Masyarakat Dago Elos terhadap Hak Atas Tanah: Advokasi dan Pemberdayaan oleh Civil Society. SOSMANIORA (Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora), 4(4), 1367–1375. https://doi.org/10.55123/sosmaniora.v4i4.7046
Marusek, S., & Wagner, A. (2024). Public Art and the Mural: Interpreting Public Memory Through Prominence, Place, and Color. Law, Culture and the Humanities. https://doi.org/10.1177/17438721241300651
Minanto, A. (2024). Street Art and a New Space of Democracy in Post-Soeharto Indonesia: Reading Anti-Tank Project posters. Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia, 13(1), 29–46. https://doi.org/10.7454/jkmi.v13i1.1230
Omwoha, J. (2024). The Murals of Dagoretti : Examining Visual Communication and its significance on Social Change. Writing the Arts &Amp; Humanities in Africa, 1(1), 68–79. https://doi.org/10.52907/wahia.v1i1.517
Pratiwi, A., & Pangestu, C. D. (2022). Instagram sebagai Medium Perlawanan Petani di Era Digital. Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi UHO : Jurnal Penelitian Kajian Ilmu Komunikasi dan Informasi, 7(2), 233–248. https://doi.org/10.52423/jikuho.v7i2.24277
Pratiwi, A., Sarwoprasodjo, S., Soetarto, E., & Pandjaitan, N. K. (2019). Strategi Komunikasi Gerakan Perlawanan Petani Peasant ’ s Movement Communication Strategies. Jurnal Pekommas, 4(2), 165–176. https://doi.org/10.30818/jpkm.2019.2040207
Pravitasari, I. S., Pandanwangi, B., & Laksani, H. (2023). Komodifikasi Perempuan Pada Desain Kemasan, Studi Kasus Teh Tubruk. CITRAWIRA: Journal of Advertising and Visual Communication, 4(2), 187–201. https://doi.org/10.33153/citrawira.v4i2.566
Rodriguez, A. K., Hack, G., Valdes, D., & Sonke, J. (2025). Murals as Health Communication: A vaccine promotion feasibility study. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 19(1), 40–65. https://doi.org/10.53333/IJICC2013/19104
Rose, G. (2016). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction of Visual Materials. SAGE Publications.
Sahabuddin, W., & Hildayanti, A. (2024). Visual communication in public space through mural art in Makassar, Indonesia. SINERGI, 28(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.22441/sinergi.2024.1.009
Syamsuadi, A., Safitri, K. I., Anjani, B. P., Jaes, L., & Rahman, R. (2025). Formal and Informal Communication Strategies for Public Support in Riau Hijau Policy Implementation. INJECT (Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication), 10(1), 733–762. https://doi.org/10.18326/inject.v10i1.4503
Yohana, F. M. (2022). Analisis Semiotika Peirce pada Mural Desa Cibunut Bandung sebagai Media Penyampai Pesan Masyarakat. SINASTRA: Prosiding Seminar Nasional Bahasa, Seni, dan Sastra, 1, 244–255.
Young, M. (2022). The Art of Resistance: Art And Resistance in Palestine. Janus.Net: e-Journal of International Relations, 13(1), 18.
Zhang, H., & Chan, B. H.-S. (2021). Protest graffiti, social movements and changing participation frameworks: The case of Macao. Journal of Language and Politics, 20(4), 515–538.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 INJECT (Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
