The Earth can take it no more: Artist
By Tedy Novan and Tarko Sudiarno
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Soil is the subject of a piece by installation artist and painter Heri Dono. To many, the land is a matter of life and death -- when landowners of single plots must make way for hotels, golf courses and housing complexes, life virtually ends for them.
In the end, according to the artist, the soil itself protested. On April 13, Heri transported six cubic meters of earth from the slopes of Indonesia's most active volcano, Mount Merapi, to the northern square of the Yogyakarta keraton (palace).
The soil moving was conducted in a procession calling on the spiritual keeper of Merapi, Mbah (grandparent) Marijan.
The mounds of soil are still sitting there in representation of Yogyakarta's ancestors conducting topo pepe: crowds protesting in silence against their king under sun and rain in the middle of the square facing the keraton.
Tomorrow, Heri plans to take the soil back to Mount Merapi.
Mount Merapi, the Yogyakarta keraton and the Indian Ocean south of Yogyakarta form what is believed to be the macrocosmos of Yogyakarta's traditional community.
This action is Heri's participation in a wide range of activities called Ruwatan Bumi (Earth-cleansing rituals), which is ongoing in several cities to April 30. The activities, coordinated by artists and activists, are being held to call on the public's awareness and creativity in response to the crisis.
"This is a form of outcry of the Merapi land, as a symbol of struggle against capitalists who arbitrarily destroy the environment," said Heri, who has had several of his pieces exhibited abroad.
At Yogyakarta's Indonesian-French Institute, the same artist has brought a silent and suffocating impression to the exhibition room. Five structures of bricks 50 centimeters high are glued together with earth from Mount Merapi. From the middle of the structures a recording is heard of various animals and insects.
The impression given is a pristine natural setting but, added with the poignant flooring of dry leaves, a reminder of barren trees.
Heri adds drama to the atmosphere by showing slides depicting flames which seem to burn four sets of small gongs. When struck, they produce monotones. Traditional culture consumed by flames might be Heri's message.
Yogyakarta was colored by several other performances and displays this month, all part of the earth-cleansing activities.
Street children of the Girli (river bank) group staged Angkringan under a bridge on April 19.
Tomorrow, the Association of Indonesian Street Minstrels and the Panigoro Theater group are scheduled to perform at Taman Budaya (Cultural Park), Yogyakarta.