“Segara Garam” and “Tasbih Pesisir”: Representing Indonesian maritime through Artworks

Abstract

Abstract“Segara Garam” (Sea Salts) and “Tasbih Pesisir” (Coastal Prayers) are two artworks in the form of audio-visuals representing the lives of coastal communities in Indonesia. The two works were created based on art-based research which was conducted by the authors, focusing on the appreciation of maritime culture. These two artworks were interpreted by 24 respondents through focus group discussion (FGD), in terms of the aesthetic characteristics of maritime art. The FGD was conducted online with three groups of participants appreciating and interpreting the audio-visual performances. The 24 participants were drawn from three groups and invited to three separate FGDs. The first FGD involved government representatives and academics; the second involved communities and artists; and the third involved master’s students specializing in the arts. Stuart Hall’s idea of representation was used to compare participants’ perceptions and interpretations of maritime arts. Signs and symbols represented in maritime art work construct appreciators by capturing issues and identities of maritime culture. The basis for positioning maritime art is the local wisdom, which was incorporated as artistic elements in the works “Segara Garam” and “Tasbih Pesisir.” Despite their diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, the participants display expressive responses to marine-related idioms as well as sensitivity to creative and aesthetic characteristics as well as the meaning of the idiom. The participants described coastal community life as destitute, difficult, and unequal.

Keywords

• artworks
• audio-visual performances
• Indonesia
• maritime
• representation