Sanggar Sarak Eyes Scream Papuan Tragedy | Photo Essay By Adithio
Sanggar Sarak
Adhito’s series of portraits are of Sanggar Sarak, a traditional tribal band hailing from Village Yenbekaki in Raja Ampat, West Papua.
The richness of colourful Papuan culture is on display in it’s entirety.
The band’s homemade attire resembles the art and craftsmanship of the Papuan people of Papua, including their own homemade instruments.
There is one curious theme that the camera cannot help focus on in every photo.
There is a tragedy in their eyes.
The ongoing struggle for freedom from Indonesia has become an independence movement invisible to the rest of the world.
This collective dream has been reduced to an internal scream, delivered through the windows to the soul.
These portraits were taken during Adithio time in Sorong, where he co-facilitated a week-long filmmaking workshop for Papuan activists called ‘Papuan Voices’.
It’s a workshop that has helped verbalize and communicate the Papuan desire for freedom.
The band had made the trip to Sorong from Raja Ampat, which was their first stop before embarking on a tour around Java for performances.
This was the first time for most of the band members to be traveling outside of West Papua.
‘Papuan Voices’ was run by Engage Media, with the activist’s films being screened throughout Indonesia and Australia.
These films are viewable on http://www.papuanvoices.net.
