The Dynamics of Women Across Generations Captured in the One-Person Performance, Dapur Sumur Tutur

JAKARTA - Galeri Indonesia Kaya presents an art performance through a one-man show titled Dapur Sumur Tutur. This work highlights the dynamics of women across generations in the midst of changing values and traditions.

Produced by Nosa Nurmanda and directed by Ben Bening, this work was staged by Putri Ayudya, an actor with two nominations for Best Actress FFI and winner of the Maya Cup.

In about an hour, art lovers are invited to explore the story of three generations of Javanese women in one family who are present in the sacred moment of the one thousand day anniversary of the death of Eyang Kakung. Through the point of view of YangTi, Ibuk, and Mbak, this performance presents an inner dialogue about tradition, family relationships, and experiences that are passed down from one generation to the next.

"The staging of Dapur Sumur Tutur today is in line with Galeri Indonesia Kaya's commitment to presenting performance art works that not only entertain, but also raise issues close to people's lives. Through personal stories and strong artistic approaches, we hope that this performance can open a space for reflection for art lovers about family dynamics, the role of women, and the ongoing cultural value changes," said Renitasari Adrian, Program Director Galeri Indonesia Kaya in a written statement received by VOI.

The performance of Dapur Sumur Tutur departs from the anxiety of the Javanese millennial generation of women towards traditions that are often passed down without reinterpretation. In many stories, these values are passed down without understanding their roots and contexts, making it difficult to adapt to changes in time and potentially causing generational trauma. The shift of the realm of women from being a companion to a king to being a partner in parallel in modern life is also a common thread in this performance.

The issue of the sandwich generation and ageism was also raised as a reflection of the current social conditions, when the number of elderly population continues to increase, while the number of productive ages is increasingly limited. This situation makes the younger generation have to bear the economic burden as well as the greater care of the family, in the midst of limited access to employment and independence for the elderly.

In this context, women are often at the forefront, not least because of the values and traditions that place them as the main managers of parents in old age. This reality reflects the strong gender expectations that place women as the main caretaker in the family.

Putri Ayudya as the sole actor in this performance said that this work was born from personal experience and the result of research with the creative team.

"This story starts from anxiety as a Javanese millennial generation. Some of the material comes from our personal experiences and some of the other from research on Javanese women, generational trauma, and the process of reparenting. The title Dapur Sumur Tutur itself describes the changing role of women, from the original limited in the domestic sphere to a space to speak and voice experiences. "

Nosa Nurmanda also talked about the one thousand day death anniversary which has a symbolic meaning.

"The selection of three generations of women and the background of the one thousand day death anniversary has a symbolic meaning. This moment is a space for family reflection, when grief has settled and can be reinterpreted. That's where we see how values, wounds, and perspectives are inherited between generations, sometimes unconsciously. Hopefully, through this performance, the audience can better understand that traditions can continue to live and be relevant if they are approached wisely," he said.

The stage also ran smoothly thanks to the contribution of background music and sound effects composed by Taufan Iskandar, lighting, and visual elements displayed on the screen, which were developed by combining the personal perspectives and research results of each creator. All of these elements are designed to strengthen the atmosphere of the performance and help the audience immerse themselves in the emotions and dynamics between generations presented in this work.