Young artists dig deep in artistic quest<\/p>\n
By Asip A. Hasani<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): In its strict definition, a hole is merely
\nempty space which is adhered to by a boundary or border.<\/p>\n
But it can also be a space to explore, to test the boundaries
\nand enter a dark labyrinth of the unknown. It holds many
\npossibilities, both dark (the proverbial \"black hole\"), or ones
\nfull of opportunities.<\/p>\n
Hole also is the title of a multimedia performance and
\nexhibition by young modern artists from Geber Modus Operandi at
\nYogyakarta Cemeti Art House until March 30.<\/p>\n
The performance consists of a large arena in a half circle,
\nlamps and messages in English on the wall, plus a set of lighting
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
The hole is the inspiration as well as the object of
\nexploration of Geber's work; in the performance, the hole is
\ntransformed into a funnel of light which two male artists
\nexplore.<\/p>\n
One actor is in an arched iron enclosure, hugging an iron ball
\ncontaining a light. He moves here and there in the enclosure, but
\nhis focus remains on the light in the iron ball as though he is
\nintent on swallowing it.<\/p>\n
At the same time, at the other end of the space, the other
\nactor tries to catch light from a flashlight. He jumps forward
\nand backward, to run after and catch the light, only to find the
\neffort fruitless.<\/p>\n
Realizing that his hunt for the light is likely to be endless,
\nthe actor stops trying but moves in slow motion. He watches the
\nlight and whispers, \"Where is my head, where is my heart, where
\nis my head, where is my soul?\"<\/p>\n
The 35-minute play ends with the actor's scream, \"I!\"
\n\"Become!\" \"I am!\" \"Becoming!\"<\/p>\n
The performance is directed by young Bandung artist Amrizal, a
\nformer art director and one of the founders of Teater Jagung
\nIndonesia at Bandung's Pasundan University (Unpas). The two
\nactors are Ari Wayang from Yogyakarta University's Teater Unstrat
\nand Asep Cepot from Unpas' Teater Jagung Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We chose multimedia art because we can explore every
\npossibility of a certain idea through some objects,\" Amrizal told
\nThe Jakarta Post. \"And the fact that we have our own ability in
\nart and we combine these different ways of expressing ideas.\"<\/p>\n
The artistic design is by young artist Sigit Pius Kuncoro, who
\nis also a modern painter. Sigit is a former student of the
\nInstitute of Indonesian Art, Yogyakarta, as are Wildan Antarez
\nand Bintang Hanggono, who are the sound and computer operator and
\ngraphic designer respectively.<\/p>\n
Hole is the fourth work of Geber Modus Operandi since the
\ngroup was founded in 1998. All of the group's works are in the
\nform of multimedia art.<\/p>\n
Geber's most phenomenal work was Mystical Machine Made in
\nIndonesia, which was performed in Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta
\nin 2000.<\/p>\n
As in Mystical Machine Made in Indonesia, Geber tries to send
\na message through Hole to the country's young generation, who are
\nsearching for their identity amid a strong wave of modernity and
\neconomic hardship during a prolonged multidimensional crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Hole symbolizes anything through which people can see the
\nworld outside boundaries, but we want to emphasize the existence
\nof the boundary to which a hole is adhered. We want to say that
\nhere is the world of possibilities and, at the same time,
\nboundaries,\" said Sigit, who created the work's original script.<\/p>\n
Hole will also be performed and exhibited in Surakarta in
\nApril and Bandung in May.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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