Project Tobong from Java

 Ketroprak Tobong Kelana Bakti Budaya is one of the last remaining nomadic theatre troupes in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia. The troupe normally perform traditional musical dramas using their tobong or stage. However for the tobong project, they photographed at outdoor locations. Described as performing to the camera in Java, the photo project was done with theatrical portraits of the performers in real life scences in and around Yogya. I recognised a few of these places, having been to Yogka a couple of times.

The project was led by British artist Helen Marshall and Indonesian artist Risang Yuwono. A series of exhibitions started in 2011 in Jakarta then in Yogyakarta, then the following years went to Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and had several events in London and other places in UK. In Oct 2015 it started a 6 month display at the Horniman Museum at Forest Hill, southeast London.

The stories upon which the photos are based come from Javanese history and the performers wear costumes similar to those worn by legendary figures from centuries ago.

These first few photos are taken in Yogyka. This one was at the railway station, note the sacks of cement in the train carriage

A performer and a street worker in front of one of the many street murals/graffiti

A petrol station

Peformers ineracting with air con

a tug of war at a building site

A performer who has lost his arms, at a disused cultural building

In a field with props of a wheelbarrow and mirror

Above and below on Parangtritis beach and dunes

 
This is a photo I took of Parangtritis Beach in 1991 -

Padi fields with rice sacks

An abandoned building

Yogyakarta airport