ARTFUL CONNECTION
Trimurtis: Creator (Brahma), preserver (Vishnu) and the transformer (Shiva) in Hinduism. It is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. Its tall and pointed forms, akin to the mountain, are visible from afar and look exceptionally lovely in the early morning light.
Nearby, a temple thought to have been built by a Hindu king for his Buddhist queen stood tall. As a tribute to love that conquers barriers from the ninth century, Candi Plaosan is one of those quiet destinations that beg to be explored at leisure. Two main temples has withstood the test of time and countless earthquakes, with the most recent in 2006. The impact of the quake is visible in the piles of stones that used to be stupas and shrines. Delicately carved reliefs of beautiful Tara deities and princely Boddhisatvas adorned the walls, charming their onlookers with serene smiles.
There are more temples to be explored in the north and south of Prambanan complex. Finding a temple which appeals to one’s aesthetic taste is part of the fun. Crowding will not be a problem in these outdoor man-made wonders, making it the ideal destination to practise social distancing. Having seen enough reliefs for the day, I spent my remaining time exploring the city’s art scene.
Fondly known as the student’s city of Indonesia, Yogyakarta is greatly romanticised and immortalised in song lyrics and movies. Indonesians across generations went to its universities, found themselves and perhaps also lost their hearts, at some point. “Who knew what the spell was/ I believe there is something special in Jogja,” croons Adhitia Sofyan in a song about longing for a Yogyakartan girl who didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Despite its age-old tradition and heritage, Yogyakarta is also powered by youthful energy, thriving communities and an evolving art scene.
From award-winning filmmaker Garin Nugroho to visual artist Heri Dono, many Indonesian artists, thinkers and cultural observers can claim Yogyakarta as their birth place or source of major influence. Fuelled by the late-night coffee jaunts and scrumptious street food, creativity has always been given a wide space to grow here. ARTJOG, one of Indonesia’s biggest contemporary arts fair, is held here every year. Various art spaces, galleries, institutions, and studios are welcoming visitors – as long as they wear their masks and wash their hands. Perhaps it is only natural for art to be an inseparable identity of this city. Led by kings who were known to have choreographed dances and princesses who designed batik motifs, how could it be otherwise?