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Young artists explore preservation of memories in mixed art show
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.
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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. (Studio Batu/File)
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.
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)
