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Home Terra inFirma Sea of Thorny Fruits | Jumaadi

Sea of Thorny Fruits | Jumaadi

by beth sorensen
Artist Jumaadi sitting on the ground with his shadow puppets projected by a light onto the wall next to him

World premiere
Saturday 31 October at 3 pm and 6 pm
General admission $5
25 minutes + post-show Q&A
Suitable for ages 10+
Book now

Indonesian-Australian artist Jumaadi and his collaborators revisit an ancient technique for storytelling, the shadow play. Five artists, two projectors and an assortment of traditional gamelan and contemporary musical instruments come together in this intense but humorous new theatrical work.

Using beautifully crafted cut-outs made of paper, buffalo hide and cardboard, Jumaadi explores the relationship between humans and the sea. Sea of Thorny Fruits focuses on the history of the Java Strait, in which ships from across the world enter and exit carrying goods, food, masters and slaves and their stories, joy and grief.

The Strait played host to Lt James Cook, who sailed from Australia towards England when his ship was damaged on the Great Barrier Reef and needed restoration in Batavia in Java. Many of Cook’s crew died there, supposedly due to malaria and dysentery, including the artist and navigator from Tahiti, Tupaia.​

Delivered with immense skill and precision, Sea of Thorny Fruits uses rhythms and silhouettes to explore the connection between humans and the ocean from pre-European colonial times to our present day.

Creative team

Jumaadi: Artist, creative director
Michael Toisuta: Composer, sound and music maker
Deva Permana: Composer, sound and music maker
Julia Westwood: Shadow maker
Mayumi Nagata: Shadow maker

Free spiced Javanese tea and coconut juice drinks will be served before each performance.

Before the performance, artists Alex Byrne and Julie Vulcan join Terra inFirma: Sovereignty and Memory curator Paul Howard to discuss their works in the exhibition. Learn more about Terra inFirma here.

Session 1
2 pm – Alex Byrne and Julie Vulcan in conversation with Paul Howard
3 pm – Sea of Thorny Fruits performance followed by Q&A with Jumaadi

Session 2
5 pm – Alex Byrne and Julie Vulcan in conversation with Paul Howard
6 pm – Sea of Thorny Fruits performance followed by Q&A with Jumaadi