Balinese Sculptor Walks Out of 'Offensive' Satirical Play

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Renowned Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta recently walked out of a theater performance entitled "Calon Arang" as an attempt to show protest against the show that he saw tended to mock a number of state leaders.

“The actors expressed banters that tended to make a mockery of several country leaders,” he said in a written statement on Monday, March 25.

According to the man behind Bali’s Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument, the art performance that was held on Saturday, March 23, had expressed vulgar languages, borderline hate speech. He also argued that the play had belittled a number of Indonesian leaders and failed to exude positive inspirations.

“Even if they expressed it in comedy terms, it shouldn’t take the form of mockery that discredits certain people,” said Nyoman Nuarta.

This disappointment led to his walkout, which was followed by several other audience members, before the play ended.

In response, lead actress and leader of the theater production Maria Anneke maintained that the play put forth satire where its actors and actresses had never mentioned identities of any presidential candidate or any political figure throughout the performance.

“So if it was perceived as offensive, maybe that is entirely based on the perception [and subjectivity] of each audience member,” said Maria Anneke to Tempo on Monday, March 25.

The art performance was previously played in Jakarta’s Taman Ismail Marzuki and received a positive response from the audience. The play featured several news anchors and journalists from many TV stations as the actors and was directed by A. Nawir Hamzah.

ANWAR SISWADI