Daniel SW - Photos
I am an Indonesian photographer with a focus on the photography of performance arts. I have previously worked with video materials, but currently photography is my main occupation. The stage attracts me because of the colors and shapes that create diversity in forms and an honesty in the psychological expression of the subject. I think that these qualities are hard to find these days, especially under the pressure of mass production and pulp pop culture, which produce dull patterns defined by a materialistic view and social conformity.
With new media revolutions, the stage as a subject for photography is out of fashion in Indonesia, as it seems to be around the world. Recently, Indonesia has had huge political changes, moving from a totalitarian system to an open democratic society. Before that, when all of the mainstream media was silenced, the stage was the last bastion of free expression, although under constant threat from the repressive regime.
For Indonesia, theatrical events were, and still are, a common social ritual, and the stage continues to be considered a place of unrestricted statements. With the political changes and sudden shift to democracy, we see the other extreme; everywhere everyone became freely outgoing with their opinions about everything. The result, a kind of chaos in this multicultural country with no deep common consciousness to underpin the political aspiration for unity in cultural diversity. Perhaps the only place where all the differences still co-exist in peace and beautiful harmony is the theatrical stage.
Currently my greatest wish is to share photos of Indonesia through exhibitions and the creation of books, which I hope will serve as valuable evidence of ephemeral existences on the stage that need to be captured in more tangible cultural data. And further, my goal through this work is to invite a deeper contemplation of democracy through the respecting of differences – the building of mutual respect and freedom of expression by looking at simple, beautiful things around us as reflected in photographs of the stage.