Ende - Flores Island 2011, this is the second time for me to join the ritual. First one when I was 12, many years ago and didnt had the chance to photographed that time since I was too busy playing with aunties & uncles. Im from Lio tribes, as my mom & dad and also her father who is the godfather, head-chief of the seven klan. Enough with family infos, lets back to demographic lesson about Ende, one major city in Flores Island. Ende regency divided into two major native tribes; Lio & Ende. Lio Tribes spread in the East side, the mountains, hills and north coast while Ende tribes settled on the South coast, and the little island of Ende. Here is a ritual of an Lio tribes which occured every three year where they replacing the old ‘cogon grass roof’ of the ‘main house’ wih the new one. Only the sons & grandsons of the seven chief’s are allowed to climb and responsible for this important job. While in the yard, the daughters & granddaughters will dance until the work finished. By doing this, Lio tribes believed that with the new cogon grass roof, there will be new spirit comes down and blessed the main house and the community so that they will have three more harvest full year. ©Karolus Naga
“I have a responsibility as a documentary photographer; to photograph the time that we live in, what the world is about now, and my job is to capture whats going on. And if I get a great photo, well … thats a bonus.” _ Martin Parr
Documentary photographer for many years have been working to collect the “world”, their world. Some of the great names even “go out” to new far away places. Some choose to work “at home” like my favorite photographer; Christian Sunde. I always adore the work from Christian Sunde, for its intimacy, natural & personal world. This one for example …
This family, friends, colleagues, lovers, partners pictures have the same importance degree to any other subjects; historical events for example. And as a documentary photographer, I have a responsibility to take personal subject(s) to my work for they are pieces of my time, my world.
Home is where the heart is ©Karolus Naga 2011
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can you show me where is Flores dear? Ende - Flores Island ©Karolus Naga 2012
This shot was taken on January 11th nearby Soekarno’s monument (which I hate so much for the work of bad artist creates bad piece of art), while we were driving around with my gorgeous Nadia & Rony Zakaria (he has been here for a month, bored with Jakarta he said). The statue of Soekarno itself, which I hate so much (okay I say it again. its because its so ugly & thin, doesn’t represent Soekarno, not even his shoes. Government has put big money on that statue project but hell yeah, I’m not trying to be skeptical guy here, East Nusa Tenggara is the most corrupted province in Indonesia. another thing that I hate. so much) has loosen my mood to photographed it though its a very historical place for Ende & Indonesia & it is the real world situation that been going on so called “reality” for whatever it means on a form of a bad piece of stones forming a human being.
Soekarno was here in 1934 until 1938, exiled by the Dutch. “Why Flores? Where is Flores?” This questions was asked by Soekarno’s wife at the time when received the news from authorities (on Cindy Adams’ book; Soekarno My Friend; a biography. I made an photo essay about Soekarno’s ‘jail house’ in Ende called it ‘Jailhouse Blues: ENDE 1934-1938 & ms. Adams’ book is main source for the literature research. You can see it here karolusnaga.wordpress.com - but apology for its in Bahasa). And just few meter from the spot, there is a special place where (as believed & told by himself) Soekarno designed the “five principles” (also known as pearls from Flores for Indonesia) - a formulated foundation for Indonesia as a free united-nation; which he has been dreaming of. A nation from Sabang to Merauke.
Why Flores? for the love of documentary; this is something that I want to give to ‘flower’s next generation” a record of history for the future. so next time when Nadia old enough, she can see her beautiful island. Island of Flowers as once Portuguese named this island long time ago circa 13th century.
in memory of Angelina Bechom 1987-2011 ©Karolus Naga - December 2011.
it has been two years since the day I see her beautiful smile, holding her newborn baby and refused to be photographed by me. I still remember that like it’s just yesterday. few days after I arrived at Flores Island, I see her again. she gave me a very warm welcome-home hug, smiled as always and blushing each time I expressed my feeling about how much I missed her, how she’s turning to a real angel that comes down to earth with the ray of light just like those on the story book children.
few days latter a short shocking message from her husband made my heart crippled. Angel is having accident. I rushed to the Intensive Care Unit and there she was. lied on a bed of for by four white room. I cried all the time (and also when I write about this, now), each time she struggled to move her head for a drink or asked me to wipe her sweat. I put my hand on her forehead, rub slowly until she slept, just to let her know that I’m always there at her side, watching her. but my heart told me: my angel is dying, but keep on fighting. I said the nurse to hurry up, working this and that each time she asked for something. as I got real mad, she held my hand and said “stop complaining about anything brother” …
what kind of word do you want to hear from a dying angel, your loved one. stop complaining! and she was just 24. that morning, when god took her away I promised to my self - i will not gonna complaining about anything, anymore. coz an angel belongs to heaven, and she’s happy for good. I took hundred of images from her funeral, and I must say that; it was a very very hard time of my photography. did my best to keep the proper exposure on my camera while my eyes full with tears. It aint easy at all.
as I regained my full attention to the project that I am working, her little last word struck on my head. as a photographer I often complain about anything. lights, bad track to remote villages, bad weather, harsh sun beams, rainy days, smiling faces, food, bed & everything. but somewhere up in the sky, an Angel would whispering this words through the wind & rain - stop complaining and do your best … do it for me!
Ende - Flores Island ©Karolus Naga 2011. I am currently searching for any literature that describes or explains about the history of the music in Lio (Flores tribes at large scope). Specially on its instruments. where they come from, was it influenced by Balinese of Javanese or else? And another big question is about Iron Ages et cetera which is important part due to the invention of these kind of music instruments. If you guys have any infos about that, I really loved to hear.
