Installation artist Iyok Suntari, though in deep sorrow, tried to keep his memories of his departed lover alive after the young women was killed in a shocking airplane crash.

Iyok, who first met the woman at an orchestral concert, planned to manifest his love, grief and longing for his lover through videos shown on two old television sets, while a self-written poem was recited in the background. However, before he could showcase the artwork, Iyok died after suffering severe stomach inflammation.

Iyok’s story, from his first encounter with his lover to their tragic separation, was told through a shadow puppet and video mapping show titled While You’re Away on Sunday at Galeri Indonesia Kaya at the Grand Indonesia Mall, Central Jakarta, by performing arts newcomer, Studio Batu.

 

 

 

 

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Iyok Suntari, seorang seniman di era 90an yang jatuh cinta kepada seorang pemain orkestra bernama Vita. 20 tahun kemudian, kami menemukan studio beserta tiga instalasi dan blueprint konser mini yg didedikasikan Iyok untuk Vita. Catatan, sketsa, mesin pemutar piringan hitam yang memuat memori tentang dua insan yang saling mencinta ini, menginspirasi Studio Batu untuk menyajikan pertunjukkan teater dengan objek, shadow puppet, dan multimedia. Sebuah karya tentang pertemuan dan perpisahan, dan juga kenangan yang tersemat dalam piringan-piringan hitam,lagu-lagu lawas, dan juga benda-benda rongsok. Selamat berpetualang di dalam mesin-mesin yang membawa kita ke masa lalu. . Sebuah karya pertunjukan dari @studiobatu “WHILE YOU’RE AWAY” Galeri Indonesia Kaya 3 Maret 15.00 . @indonesia_kaya @djarumfoundation @ruang.seni.pertunjukan @garinworkshop @studiobatu . Performer : @wulangsunu @cellupe @yohanesyodi @garudapalaka Actor : @mbesembes Director : @wulangsunu Poetry : @henricuspria Music Director : @philggar @gregoriusragilw Lighting Director : @banjarrow Artistic Crew : @girgir_ @chopoten @bram_santoso www.indonesiakaya.com/event

A post shared by Studio Batu (@studiobatu) on Feb 28, 2019 at 5:35am PST

Despite its newbie status, Studio Batu has attracted the limelight with its 12-minute short film Prenjak/In The Year Of Monkey, directed by young director Wregas Bhanutedja, which won the Cannes Film Festival’s Leica Cine Discovery prize – an award from the Critics' Week category that acknowledges new talents in short film.

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Prior to Sunday’s performance, the Yogyakarta-based multidiscipline group was mentored by prominent figures in performing arts such as Teater Koma’s Tinton Prianggoro, award-winning director Garin Nugroho, dancer and choreographer Eko Supriyanto, composer and theater director Djaduk Ferianto and Teater Koma production head and actress Ratna Riantiarno.

“Iyok and his story are fictional,” Studio Batu’s director Wulang Sunu told The Jakarta Post after the show.

“As youngsters, we reflected on the sense that most of the time we feel distanced from our memories of the past. Thus, we thought of alternative ways of preserving memories,” said the 27-year-old artist.

While the story may be fictional, he emphasized that the airplane crash was inspired by and intended to honor the memories of a friend’s father, who was killed in a Garuda Indonesia plane crash in 1997.

Tinton, who had mentored the group twice prior to the show, praised Studio Batu, describing the group as a promising artistic team.

“Studio Batu has its own appeal in the way it stages its shows. Its creative ideas for making original art and adapting traditional shadow puppetry make it distinctive from other groups,” said Tinton.

Studio Batu was among the 14 artistic groups chosen to participate in the Ruang Kreatif program, a performing arts initiative created by the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation and the Garin Workshop. (mut)

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