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'I La Galigo': Remarkable performance rooted in South Sulawesi's Bugis
I La Galigo is being staged at Ciputra Artpreneur in South Jakarta until July 7.
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Sawérigading (middle) stands before the Welenrennge tree during a press preview of 'I La Galigo' on July 3 at Ciputra Artpreneur in South Jakarta. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
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awérigading must sacrifice his feelings. The prince is in love with Wé Tenriabéng, his twin sister, but their relationship is forbidden as it would bring devastation to their kingdom.
Wé Tenriabéng suggests to Sawérigading that he should meet Wé Cudaiq, their cousin in China who bears a resemblance to Wé Tenriabéng. If after meeting Wé Cudaiq he still yearns for Wé Tenriabéng, he can return to his twin sister and both would stay together no matter what. However, if Sawérigading falls in love with Wé Cudaiq instead, their child would later marry Wé Tenriabéng’s child and they would still unite after all.
This is the story of I La Galigo, a theatrical and musical performance directed by Robert Wilson and based on the Sureq Galigo epic. The epic narrates the origins of the Bugis tribe in South Sulawesi from the 13th to 15th centuries.
After debuting in Singapore in 2004, the production visited several countries, including Spain, Italy and France. In 2018, I La Galigo was selected to perform at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bali.
I La Galigo is being staged at Ciputra Artpreneur in South Jakarta until Sunday as a collaboration between the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, the Bali Purnati Institute and Ciputra Artpreneur.
Read also: Airlangga Komara: The man behind the majestic costumes of ‘I La Galigo'
Featuring music by renowned arranger Rahayu Supanggah, the show involves 12 musicians and 70 musical instruments, including traditional ones from Sulawesi, Java and Bali.
Special kudos go to the production team for creating effortless yet creative props, especially when combined with the actors’ physical traits. For instance, in a scene where Sawérigading sails on the ocean with his cousins, the boats are made of fabric and they're moved solely by the actors.
Sheby, an audience member from Jakarta, praised the show for preserving Indonesian elements. “The performance has a lot of interpretations,” Sheby told The Jakarta Post. “It’s a contemporary [performance] without leaving Indonesian culture, including the music.”
Haerul, who was born in East Sulawesi's Makassar, said the performance was perfect. “The performance made me, a native of Sulawesi, realize that my ancestors had created such a great work of literature like Sureq Galigo,” he said. (wng)
