BIJI NAGA

This installation narrates our ecosystem through the symbiosis between soil and the plant world, drawing on the mythology of Naga Antaboga and his daughter, Dewi Sri, goddess of fertility. In the Sundanese version of the myth, the dragon sheds a tear that becomes a seed, from which Dewi Sri is born. This origin story frames the work as a reflection on balance and interdependence.

The installation consists of soil seed forms that move across dunes of soil, leaving repeated imprints on the surface. These traces recall the scales of the telluric dragon, linking geological matter to cultural symbolism through movement.

This work also refers to the cycle of life described in the myth of Dewi Sri. After her death, each part of her body transforms into specific plants, such as rice, bamboo, and palm, that reappear above the ground. These suspended elements made from leaves and seeds are inspired by the Balinese penjor, the embodiment of naga, and celebrate agricultural cycles and harvests.

The installation suggests that ecosystems, like cultures, can be sustained through repeated gestures and acts of care.

About the exhibition performance:

The performance is an interpretation of the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which seeks harmony between nature, humanity, and the spiritual realm.

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