Through a Cassava-Based Costume, Roller Coaster Unveils Ecological Concerns in Bali

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BADUNG – Under the Badung sky in Bali, a body is thrown forcefully onto the muddy ground. This is Ferry Alberto Lesar, an artist and contemporary dance choreographer from Manado, North Sulawesi. With his body bound by transparent material, he moves theatrically, as if fighting against invisible constraints.

However, the transparent material binding Eyi – his nickname – is not a conventional synthetic product. It is TeloBag, an eco-friendly bag made from cassava, which he has adapted into a performance costume. Through his latest work, entitled ‘Roller Coaster’, this artist, who is also part of the Indonesian Dance Arts Foundation (YSTI), transforms material into body and body into a medium for criticism.

This unique collaboration between contemporary dance and ecological innovation stems from Eyi’s deep concern for Bali’s land. For Eyi, the Island of Gods has an extremely fragile space behind its globally admired beauty. “Bali is a special city, and it should also be treated specially,” said Eyi in a written statement on Sunday (17/5/2026).

Based on this uniqueness, Eyi believes that eco-friendly innovations such as cassava bags should replace conventional plastics that damage the earth. “It would be much better if all retail outlets and the use of conventional plastics could gradually be replaced with this cassava-based material. In addition to being biodegradable in water, this material is also safe if ingested by marine or terrestrial organisms,” he said.

An Ideal Promise That Remains Unfulfilled

This ideal concept remains only a work on stage. In reality, government and public concern for environmental issues is still very minimal, while the issue of waste in Bali is increasingly massive and piling up in almost every corner of the city.

The wide gap between the art stage and reality is what is symbolically explored in ‘Roller Coaster’. Before the main action begins, two male dancers, David and Malim, communicate with the audience about their concerns for the earth. The audience then writes down their hopes and concerns on small pieces of paper.