The Controversial Sukuh Temple

dwiputras — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:46:00 GMT

Sukuh is a Hindu temple complex located in the Berjo village, Central Java at the foot of Mount Lawu slope at an altitude of approximately 1186 meters above sea level. It can be reached from Karanganyar that is about 20 kilometer from the temple and 36 kilometers from Surakarta. This temple is considered controversial because of the uncommon shape that is different from other temples and many objects that symbolize sexuality are found there.

The impression gained from this temple is quite different from that obtained from other major temples in Central Java, namely Borobudur and Prambanan. The form of Sukuh temple relics appear to be similar to the Mayans in Mexico or Peru Inca cultural heritage.

This temple is said to be an erotic temple because of the discovery of the Lingga and Yoni cult object. Facing each other, the Yoni and Lingga are representation of the genitals of men and women that are also frequently referred as a symbol of fertility. According to local belief, the Lingga and Yoni at the gate were once commonly used as a means to test the chastity of women by stepping over that symbol. If the Kebaya cloth that she wore were torn, it meant that she was keeping her holiness, but if the fabric was apart, the woman was believed to have lost her purity.

Please see the gallery and my blog for the full set of photos.

Photos: My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

dwiputras — Mon, 7 Nov 2011 16:48:00 GMT

Topeng Monyet (meaning: masked monkey) is one form of traditional entertainment in Indonesia. During my vacation to my hometown in Banjarnegara, Central Java, I got a chance to follow Mr. Muklis and his monkey, Pretty, on their normal day and see how they prepare for the Topeng Monyet performance. While most people are under the impression that masked monkeys are always treated poorly by their handlers, it was not the case for Pretty. For Mr. Muklis, Pretty is not only an object for making money, but also his colleague and his family. I want to introduce the place where affection and love could be involved in this so called animal exploitation, while still being indifferent. Even though Mr. Muklis treats Pretty nicely, animals are still better off living in their true habitat. Pretty is just one of a very few lucky monkeys that are being taken care of well. With my photos, I would like to urge all of us and particularly animal activists to see this issue from a broader perspective. While animal exploitation is indeed part of the major issue, poverty is what really driving these monkey handlers to do so. If poverty issues could be solved, the monkey handlers could turn away from monkey exploitation activities. As a journalism student and an animal enthusiast, taking picture of animals has been my obsession since a long time ago. Through this WorldNomads scholarship opportunity, I believe I have the quality needed to capture the African wildlife with my passion both in wildlife and photography. It would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from Jason Edwards, in addition to my childhood dream of seeing the African wildlife directly. I hope it would open up a path to my future career as a wildlife photographer.