The Earth can take it no more: Artist
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.