Ibu Pertiwi (Motherland)

Henri Affandi

The beauty of the richness of the fabrics in this dress is probably the first thing that strikes you. Yet artist Henri Affandi uses it primarily as a symbol of Indonesian imperialism. In his view, Indonesia presents itself as a very diverse nation, housing more than five hundred different ethnic groups. Yet behind the scenes another reality is taking place. Elites are trying to erase the lifestyle and traditions of the indigenous population. At the same time, Affandi sees that they are appropriating these cultural expressions. Greatness and poverty, growth and decline - in Indonesia they exist side by side.

The title of this work alludes to this duality. On the one hand, Ibu Pertiwi refers to the care for Mother Earth. On the other hand, the term is often used to create a common Indonesian identity, Affandi observes, which does not take sufficient account of the resistance that indigenous groups encounter in their attempts to protect the earth from mining and deforestation. Economic gain takes precedence.

An enclosure is also part of the installation, made with residual wood from the Circular Department Store in Leiden. Affandi also placed the dress against a screen-printed background that shows man-made land patterns in Indonesia: a piece of land decayed by the mine, a rice terrace and a deforested rainforest. Are these all equally damaging forms of exploitation of Mother Nature?

Performance

geweest

Op zaterdag 16 oktober geeft Henri Affandi een performance bij zijn werk Ibu Pertiwi (Motherland). In zijn werk stelt hij via performance en hedendaagse elementen het imperialisme in Indonesië aan de kaak. Want grootsheid en armoede, groei en verval – in Indonesië bestaan ze dicht bij elkaar.

Zaterdag 16 oktober 2021
Starttijd: 15.00 uur