Artistic Research in Indonesia

The project emerged from research I conducted in Indonesia between 2016 and 2018. Its main phase took place during a year-long stay in Yogyakarta under the Indonesian government-funded Darmasiswa scholarship, during which I studied visual arts at Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI Yogyakarta). Alongside my studies, I independently researched historical Javanese culture, architecture, literature, performing arts, traditional crafts, and the natural environment.

One of my principal areas of interest was Javanese literature from the 11th to 13th centuries, particularly representations of animate nature and relationships between the human world and the cosmos. I also investigated traditional masked dance, its symbolism, narratives, costumes, and ritual meanings. I attended performances and dance festivals, held conversations with local artists, and explored traditional mask-making practices.

Field visits to historical temple complexes around Yogyakarta, particularly the ruins of Ratu Boko, formed an important part of the research, alongside archival investigations in the digital collections of the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. I studied historical photographs of architecture, masks, costumes, and dance performances. Selected architectural elements documented in these archival materials informed the design of sculptures and components of the installation. Four photographs from the museum's collection were also incorporated into the exhibition.

My research was further informed by observations of Indonesian landscapes, documented through analogue photography, and studies in geomorphology. Historical illustrations depicting processes that shape the Earth's surface became the starting point for a series of drawings. In parallel, I developed my batik practice at Sesama, an independent art space in Yogyakarta, exploring the technique and the symbolic meanings of colour in Javanese tradition.