JAKARTA - Galeri Indonesia Kaya holds a series of art performances as a form of consistency in supporting the development of Indonesian performing arts. The performance of Jemari Kecil is a performance at the end of January 2026, which is the first Tuli musical theater in Indonesia.
The performance, initiated and developed by the Tuli Fantasy community, became a space for collaboration between Tuli and dengar artists on one stage, while opening up new ways of seeing how art can be felt and interpreted inclusively.
Jemari Kecil tells the story of Mentari, a blind dancer who loses her passion for dancing after the departure of her father who is a musician. In the process of finding her love for dance again, Mentari meets Awan, a music producer who helps her rediscover the meaning of movement, rhythm, and expression.
The story is presented for approximately 90 minutes through a combination of sign language, music, and theater that presents an emotional experience without the limitations of spoken language.
"Through the performance of Jemari Kecil, Galeri Indonesia Kaya wants to present a stage that is truly open to diversity of ways of expressing. This collaboration between deaf and hearing artists shows that performing arts can be presented inclusively. We believe that art has an important role as a meeting space, where differences are not a limit, but rather a complementary wealth. The presence of the Jemari Kecil performance by Fantasi Tuli at Galeri Indonesia Kaya is expected to open new perspectives for the audience, as well as expand the space for appreciation of works that are born from diverse experiences and perspectives," said Renitasari Adrian, Program Director Galeri Indonesia Kaya in a written statement received by VOI.
Fantasi Tuli itself is the first deaf musical community in Indonesia that brings together deaf and hearing artists on one collaborative stage. Through their works, they have consistently opened new spaces for cross-cultural art expression and appreciation with the deaf. This community has also made history as the first deaf community in Indonesia to present its own musical solo performance.
Pascal Meliala, production director and screenwriter of Jemari Kecil, together with Palka Kojansow see this performance as a form of collaboration that has been built on an equal footing since the beginning of the creative process. The combination of director, Hasna Mufidah who is a deaf artist and Dhea Seto from the hearing community presents an artistic approach that complements each other.
This collaboration shows that the spirit of inclusivity is not only present on stage through the players, but also grows strong in the process of creating works behind the scenes, from story development to translating emotions into movement, music, and visuals. This musical is also enriched with the spirit of inclusivity across generations, where the performers involved come from a wide range of ages, ranging from 12 to 43 years old.
"The words 'musical' and 'tuli' should not be in the same sentence. The most difficult thing about this production process is not teaching deaf friends to dance or explaining about music. but making a good and entertaining story. Deaf friends have a high desire to learn and enthusiasm during this production process. It made us realize that the collaboration in Deaf Fantasy shows that with the right access, in the right environment, with the right people, everything can be done," explained Pascal Meliala.
The presence of Jemari Kecil at the Galeri Indonesia Kaya is the opening of a series of Indonesian musicals which are the theme of this month and can be watched for free by Indonesian lovers of performing arts until March. The following is the schedule for weekend performances at the Galeri Indonesia Kaya:
This performance is part of an ongoing commitment to presenting art works that not only celebrate cultural diversity, but also encourage inclusiveness and accessibility in performing arts. By presenting a performance every week, Galeri Indonesia Kaya continues to open space for the community to work, collaborate, and convey stories that are relevant to today's society.
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