Maryanto
Perjalanan Kelapa Sawit (The Journey to Find Palm Oil), 2023
Shot by the artist on iPhone video, narrated in Bahasa Indonesia with subtitles in English
15 mins
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof
Copyright The Artist
A video account shot on iphone by the artist on his research journey. From surveying historical accounts to a trip down to South Kalimantan and interacting with the locals there,...
A video account shot on iphone by the artist on his research journey. From surveying historical accounts to a trip down to South Kalimantan and interacting with the locals there, Maryanto traces how the region fell prey to palm oil and mining industries since the 1970s, leaving indigenous tribes battling to claim autonomy over their land and protect these forests in present-day. The indigenous community in Kalimantan depend on the forests for their livelihoods, including harvesting essential ingredients for medicine and traditional rituals. Yet the growth of palm oil industries leading to unrestrained deforestation has disrupted much of their customs and ways of living. For instance, a traditional ceremony called Belian is performed for the purpose of healing the village, honouring ancestors, and seeking blessings for the environment. Lasting from one to six days, it involves collecting 100 types of plants, leaves, and roots from the forests as offerings, which is becoming increasingly difficult to assemble as forests are cleared.