PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
February 27th & 28th 2009
Time: 20:00
Location: Ksirarnawa Stage, Art Centre, Denpasar
March 8th 2009
Time: 20:00
Location: Graha Bhakti Budaya, TIM, Jakarta
July 11th 2009
(Special version for the closing ceremony of Bali Arts Festival)
Time: 20:00
Location: Ardha Candra Open Stage, Art Centre, Denpasar
August 16th 2009
(Special version for the Sanur Village Festival)
Time: 20:00
Location: Pantai Merthasari, Sanur
Sri Tanjung
The Scent of Innocence
Arti Foundation’s latest production, based on the rich traditional artistic expressions of Bali, depicts the fate of a young woman called Sri Tanjung, through melodies of the tembang and kidung and choreography with strong dramatic nuance. It is backed up with instrumental music performed by an ensemble consisting of gamelan instruments, western instruments and even the mandolin from the eastern part of Bali.
The story of Sri Tanjung goes back to the 13th century in East Java where we are still able to see the story engraved on various archaeological sites from the Majapahit era. During the 17th century, the story was written down in the Middle-Javanese language and came to be known as the Kidung Sri Tanjung. In Bali, the story was once a popular repertoire for the arja and ritualistic wayang, although in the present day, its performance has become very rare.
In Sri Tanjung: The Scent of Innocence, excerpts of texts in the Middle-Javanese language from the Kidung Sri Tanjung has been incorporated into Arti’s original script, in addition to other texts from the rich vocal tradition of Bali. The performance reaches its climax when Sri Tanjung is stabbed to death by her jealous husband Sida Paksa, and her spirit takes a mystical journey to the gates of heaven. Appears Dewi Durga, the guardian of the physical world or the symbol of mother earth, who then empowers Sri Tanjung through ritualistic purification and brings her back to life. Regretting his stupidity, arrogance, and his blind faith towards King Sulakrama, who not only tried to steal Sida Paksa’s wife, but had made him believe that his wife had betrayed him, Sida Paksa challenges the king in a duel. In this dance-drama, the king’s death is presented as a symbol of men’s destiny, which the king thought that he has the power to manipulate, but is actually brought upon himself through his own ambitions and lust.