Journal of Dusk is a new performance by Indonesian-Australian artist Jumaadi which 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.

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Access the Media Release here.