Indian Ocean Triennial Australia : Codes in Parallel

Growing up with two different cultural personas, Javanese and Sumatran, Maharani’s childhood was heavily influenced by Indonesia’s cultural variety. Folklore was more than simply bedtime stories; it conveyed hope, wisdom, and moral advice, transforming us into better people. One such story, Malin Kundang from West Sumatra’s Minangkabau culture, taught excellent lessons about many aspects of life.

This story is typically told to children so that they will grow up to be devoted to their parents, honor and love the mother who gave birth to them, work hard, never give up, seek knowledge as far as possible, not be selfish, accept themselves as they are, and not need to be someone else, among other moral lessons.

A similar story appears in Malaysian and Brunei Darussalam folklore under various names: Si Tanggang (or Megat Sejobang) in Selangor and Nahkoda Manis in Brunei Darussalam. The three folklore stories from three different countries share similar themes but differ in their endings and artifacts (stone inscriptions).

These stories, based on the social objectives, traditions, and lessons, resonate throughout generations, demonstrating shared ideals amidst culturaldifferences. The connections between these Malay folklores emphasize the long-term impact of migration, where traditions communicate with new circumstances. Migration forces us to adapt and grow while maintaining our distinctiveness, but history frequently represents a single viewpoint. Is there a deeper reason behind Malin, Tanggang, and Nahkoda’s actions?

This series of artworks represents an individual’s freedom to interpret history. Malin, Tanggang, and Nahkoda provide fresh insights into their hardships away from home. It encourages us to explore other people’s perspectives and challenges the idea of a single narrative. This exploration shows the complexities of human experiences and the interconnection of cultures, emphasizing the significance of empathy and understanding in our collective journey.