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Total eclipse of the art: Indonesian artists take on myths and modernity
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Rooted in traditional: Eddy Susanto's "Madyapada Keabadian" is inspired by the Javanese myth of Batara Kala. (Courtesy of Komunitas Salihara/Widhi Witjak Cahya)
M
ythology holds little relevance in a time where most of everything can be explained by science, yet its cultural significance still resonates to this day, from folktales to pop culture.
Two Indonesian artists – Eddy Susanto and Eldwin Pradipta – have taken a stab at the phenomenon, and arguably at the modern myths of the current era.
Simply titled “Eclipse”, the joint exhibition is held at Galeri Salihara, South Jakarta, until Dec. 7 in collaboration with Bandung-based ArtSociates. An artists’ talk show followed by a curatorial tour is scheduled for Nov. 21.
Exhibition curator Asmudjo J. Irianto told The Jakarta Post that the theme was borne from Eddy’s artworks theme of eternity, which drew on the legend of Batara Kala from Javanese mythology.
In the myth, written in the Adiparwa texts dating back as far as 998 AD, the giant Batara Kala was said to be the cause of eclipses, stemming from his grudge against Batara Surya and Batara Candra – gods of the sun and moon respectively.
In the search for Tirta Amerta – equivalent to the fountain of youth – Batara Kala was able to drink the liquid halfway down his throat when he was beheaded by Wisnu, who was alerted to this perceived transgression by Batara Candra and Batara Surya.
This granted immortality to Batara Kala’s head, and since then he will periodically try to get revenge by devouring the sun or the moon. The Javanese people would try to ward off the calamity by banging household items so that Batara Kala would regurgitate the celestial bodies, a ritual that some still adhere to this day.
