2016 - 2021
Leviathan Lamalera
Leviathan Lamalera is a multidisciplinary research and artistic project exploring the traditional whaling practices and maritime culture of the Lamalera community on Lembata Island, East Flores, Indonesia. Developed over two years of fieldwork and anthropological research, the project examines the community’s deep-rooted relationship with the ocean, shaped by over 600 years of sustainable whaling traditions. Central to Lamalera’s belief system is the understanding of sperm whales, referred to as Koteklema, or "the cattle sent by Mother Earth", as sacred beings that sustain the community's way of life.
The project focuses on the cultural practices and social dynamics surrounding traditional whale hunting, including the collective rituals, local legends, and ecological knowledge that have been passed down through generations. One such legend is the myth of Leviathan, a fearsome sea creature believed to have submerged the fertile island of Lepan Batan, the community’s ancestral homeland. The performance draws from this narrative, integrating daily life movements such as fishing, water collection, whale hunting, and food distribution into its choreography. Leviathan Lamalera culminated in a multimedia theatrical performance, featuring visual art projections, documentary footage, sound art, and a stage design constructed with real whale bone.
Re-Show (2021)
Behind The Scene (2016 - 2017)
Teaser
Photo Book
