JOURNAL OF DUSK

Journal of Dusk is a new performance by Indonesian-Australian artist Jumaadi that has been commissioned especially for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Featuring a series of new shadow puppets created by the artist and accompanied by musical performances, Journal of Dusk draws on a form of traditional Indonesian theatre called wayang kulit to weave poetic narratives based on historical connections between Australia and South-East Asia. Beginning with depictions of agrarian life, Jumaadi presents a montage of imagery from Australia and Indonesia including animals and plants, through to more abstract scenes of landscapes and places.

Journal of Dusk continues Jumaadi’s interest in the history of migration and exchange between Australia and Indonesia during the twentieth century through a creative reinterpretation of the story of the construction of Australia’s first gamelan, an Indonesian percussion instrument. Jumaadi has been investigating historical moments from the period 1927-1949, a time of significant movement of people between Indonesia and Australia, particularly Indonesians held as prisoners in exile some of whom were moved by the Dutch colonial government to Australia during the Second World War. This work is inspired by the story of a Javanese man who produced a gamelan ensemble using scrap metal during his exile in Dutch New Guinea (now a district within the Indonesian province of Papua). The gamelan came to Cowra, NSW, in 1942 and is now held by the University of Melbourne.

Jumaadi is accompanied by co-performers and musicians Margaret Bradley, Cameron Ferguson, Aris Setyo and Kyati Suharto.

In addition to the three performances, Jumaadi will be leading a workshop for younger audiences (recommended age 7-12)*. Children will join Jumaadi in the making of shadow puppets, story writing and the actual performance of shadow puppetry. They will leave with a shadow puppet of their own creation.

Journal of Dusk – A Contemporary Shadow Play by Jumaadi

Performances:
Friday 16 October: Performance: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturday 17 October: Children’s Workshop & Performance: 10:00am – 12:30pm
Performance: 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Venue:
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 181-187 Hay St, Sydney.

Price:
$15 per person for Performance Only tickets
$35 for child and guardian (Children’s Workshop & Performance combo ticket)
$15 per additional child or guardian (Children’s Workshop & Performance combo ticket)

Video & Edit: Dara Gill
Co-produced by and © Das Platforms and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 2015

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Jumaadi (b. 1973, Indonesia) has an artistic practice that encompasses drawing, painting, performance, weaving and installation that tells stories based personal memory and folkloric traditions. His work has been presented extensively worldwide, including in Asia, Europe, USA and Australia. In 2013 Jumaadi represented Australia at the Moscow Biennale Of Contemporary Art in Russia for which he was supported by the Australia Council through its New Work Grant for Mid Career Artist. Solo and group exhibitions include David Roberts Art Foundation, UK, 2014; Watters Gallery, Australia, 2014; National Gallery of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2011; and the French Cultural Centre, Indonesia, 2010. Jumaadi holds a Master in Fine Art from the National Art School in Sydney and divides his time between Australia and the Netherlands. He is represented by Watters Gallery, Sydney, and Jan Manton Art, Brisbane.

Margaret Bradley is an artist and educator who currently works in Early Learning and Primary Education, Learning and Teaching for the NSW Department of Education. Margaret’s professional practice is underpinned by her passion for Indonesian arts and culture, particularly the Sundanese music of West Java. She has studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and with leading musicians. Margaret has been exploring Indonesian music and culture for over thirty years while performing in Indonesia and Australia as a soloist and with Songket, Bodiswara, Sirkus Barock, Alan Dargin, Djaelani, Dody Satya Ekagustdiman, Ismet Ruchimat, Robert Lloyd, Mandiri, Balai, Meritja and Arafura.

Cameron Ferguson is a visual artist, musician and performer. Cameron’s practice is broadly based within the still life genre and object-based art, and involves creating illustrations and installations that form associations between objects, place and memory. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) and is currently completing a Masters of Fine Art (Research) at the National Art School, Sydney. His work is held in numerous private collections.

Aris Setyo graduated from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts SOLO Central Java in 2015 with a Masters of Music with a major in Traditional Javanese Gamelan Music. He has been an employee of the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia since 2015, and prior to this worked extensively throughout Indonesia with a number of traditional music ensembles. His compositions are inspired by the main characters of famous Javanese shadow puppet plays, making an aural connection between the imagery, narrative and themes of the performance.

Kyati Suharto graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School and studied illustration at Enmore Design Centre. This education has given her a rich knowledge of the interplay between visual culture and music. She is a multi-instrumentalist who specialises in trombone. Kyati grew up in Java and her music is influenced by her experiences as an artist who is inspired by the sounds and sights of her hometown.