Silsilah
~ White Tiger

                     
             A project from Transcultural Collaboration 2022 @Galeri Lorong, Yogyakarta, Indonesia


From the 9-week residency in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, as part of the Transcultural Collaboration 2022, the artist's work delved into the myth of Siluman (shape-shifter) originating from the close surroundings of the volcano in Indonesia, Mount Merapi. The White Tiger of Mount Merapi is believed to be a mythical being—an apparition of the protecting ancestor of the villagers beneath Merapi.

In further research, the artist discovered that Siluman is known as a figure with a fluid identity. Local inhabitants interpret and understand Siluman differently; its form and behavior vary from village to village. The hidden history and fluidity of interpretation captivated the artist's attention.

The artist's interpretation focuses on the fluidity of concepts surrounding collective memory, the Siluman myth, and intersections between myth and geography. The work explores how this myth has emerged from people's desire for a connection with the past and things that have passed away. Furthermore, the artist investigates how collective memory can be transformed into a figure or object. Through this exploration, the artist aims to provoke contemplation on the nature of myth, memory, and cultural identity.