Natasha Tontey blends contemporary narratives with the myths of the Minahasa culture, an Indigenous nation from northern Indonesia. Through a non-binary and non-anthropocentric lens, the artist questions gender relations, oppression, and ecology by envisioning different futures where balance between the human and the non-human is preserved.
The work Garden Amidst the Flame invites us to follow the protagonist, Virsay, on her journey through trials and rituals, culminating in her transformation into a Kabasaran warrior— a martial art traditionally performed only by Minahasan men. Throughout the narrative, which fluctuates between reality and fantasy, Virsay is never alone. She walks alongside her group of women and receives guidance from animated beings, such as the rooster Ayam Jago and the fish Raja Laut. In this work, Tontey stages a confrontation between ancestral worldviews, Western values, and the inevitable changes brought by globalization.
Mel Ferrari
Natasha Tontey (Indonesia, 1989) has an artistic practice that predominantly investigates fictional accounts of history and myths surrounding “manufactured fear.” In her research, she observes possibilities of other futures designed not from the perspective of hegemonic institutions but rather from a subtle and personal struggle of marginalized entities and beings. The notions of spirituality, transcendence, and popular culture are central to her work. Her recent exhibitions include shows at the MACAN Museum (Indonesia), the 34th Singapore International Film Festival, the Singapore Biennale, Arko Art Council (South Korea), and the Museum für Gegenwart, Germany. She lives between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
