IKATAN: SACRED BOND

[SACRED BOND]

IKATAN ᬳᬶᬓᬢᬦ᭄

IKATAN is a manifestation of the “Tri Hita Karana” represented by a mobile theatre installation that allows you to experience Bali’s culture in its truest form. When you participate in the theatre journey, you become a part of the island’s ethereal connection. Here, we invite you to discover the deeper meaning of “Tri Hita Karana” — a Balinese belief of bringing balance to the earth by bridging Three Sacred Bonds: Man, Nature and Spirits together.

THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN

Beyond the panning drone views of rice paddies and instagrammable ocean waves, what do you truly know about Bali? What lies beneath its decadent images of pleasure? Through this production, we aim to unearth the richness and depth of the Balinese culture. Here, we reveal hidden meanings and wisdom of its philosophical traditions that lies beneath the surface, one that may go unnoticed among Bali’s visitors. By weaving together traditional and contemporary cultural arts through the mobile theatre, we hope to inspire our audiences to reflect on their own relationship with the world around them.

[SACRED BOND]

H ita 3 KARANA

The theatre production’s main inspiration, Tri Hita Karana, is a Balinese philosophy of maintaining balance between the real and the spiritual, manifested through three sacred connections.

Pawongan refers to the relationship between human to human. Palemahan, man to nature. Lastly, the cycle concludes with Parahyangan, the connection between man and the divine. These Three Sacred Bonds are interconnected and continue to be practiced in Balinese daily life.

Engaging with the Balinese everyday spirituality, the Three Sacred Bonds serve as a reminder that phenomenal connection can stem from cherishing the every day, the fact that any moment in life cannot be repeated; a particular gathering will never be replicated, and thus each moment is always a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Simillarly, Ikatan invites you to ‘un-capture’ Bali, and instead experience the moment through a sacred cycle you have never encountered before.

Bali’s first-ever participatory theatre installation, moving around the island to share its wisdom experience sacredness in its truest form through cultural participation inspired by the sacred philosophy inherited through generations. Every session, 4 travellers and 4 locals come together to commence the theatre acts from beginning to end. Unlike other shows and theatres in Bali where they experience performances by ‘watching’ passively as tourists; they are given a chance to ‘participate actively’. Participants can be immersed in the culture, infused with the local values and spirit as they intermingle with local communities, whilst producing their own sacred performance with unique ear cries and designs a mobile theatre with the philosophical aspect manifested into a whole physical participatory experience, allowing travellers to experience Bali’s spirituality authentically instead of the exhibitionist display format. Performing together with the locals, mobile theatre acts as an agency for participants to commence the cultural activities of the Three

4 TRAVELLERS, 4 LOCALS, AND A MOBILE THEATRE.

SHARING

{MOBILE, BY THE BEACH}

The Ikatan’s Spirit House moves around Bali to share its wisdom on the story of the Three Sacred Bonds, making sure that everyone from all backgrounds can learn about its everyday spirits and local values. Performed at the beaches where each full session is located at different shorelines, the mobile theatre acts as a bridge between two realms; the real and the spiritual.

As the beach is famously known as the icon of tourism and pleasure of Bali, one may forget that it is also a unique sacred place for locals to embark on ceremonial rituals and purification. Hence, the beach presents a duality between the two worlds. Placing the mobile theatre by the sea when the participatory play occurs, the installation becomes a totem; in this shoreline, two realms exist. The Seen and The Unseen, weaved together to form a bond that balances each other. This a reminder for all Bali’s visitors, despite enjoying the island as a visual pleasure, to also remember in maintaining an appreciation for its beautiful spiritual heritage.

THE PERFORMERS

HERE

TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH YOU

Nature Spirit Man

Whilst the breathtaking landscapes of Bali are intriguing, it is truly the people that catches the eye, acting as the agency and source of The Three Sacred Bonds. This is Bali’s “living culture” — the people and the intangible elements that help to identify their way of life. This local-centric narrative is often overshadowed in the tourism landscape, but in Ikatan’s participatory theatre, we are here to shine a spotlight on the island’s locality. Commencing the performance, the local participants will become your acquaintance, friend, guidance, and family, as they become the indirect performers, sharing local knowledge on the rituals and philosophies of The Three Sacred Bonds.

MAN TO MAN

"Born and raised in the district of Kedonganan, Wayan has spent her life by the shoreline together with her mother running her warung business. She explains that Tri Hita Karana lives around us, in her warung, her interactions with customers, even the sea view that one enjoys from her place. This is what she wishes to share to visitors around Bali.”

FALISHA, COLLEGE STUDENT RONI, WARUNG OWNER

AGUS, RESTAURANT MUSICIAN DIAN, MANAGER

MAN TO NATURE

PUTU, FISHERMAN

"Spending his life in the ocean fishing for local restaurants, Putu glimpses at the dark side of modern nature, a beach filled with plastic waste. Putu hopes that the theatre can raise awareness on manifestation of man & nature that exists through the cleaning of beaches and environment.”

BAYU, BEACH GUARD AGUNG, CLEANER

PUTU, AUTOMATIVE WORKER

KADEK, FISHERMAN

MAN TO SPIRIT

GUSDE, SPIRIT MASKED DANCER

“Every dance he commenced, he felt in trance and one with the divine, surrendering his body to be in rhythm with the divine music. This is his way of manifesting connection to the spirits and the beauty of traditional Balinese dances.”

SAYU, WAITER DAYU, BALINESE DANCER

DITA, GAMELAN PLAYER RIA, BALINESE PRIEST SIDEKICK

J alan

When we start the first act of “JALAN”, we commence the Balinese tradition of traveling together on foot to reach an ethereal place. From the invitation sent to the participants, one must find the whereabouts of the Ikatan’s mobile theatre alongside the others, searching for the procession based on the clues showcased in the theatre invitation. A form of social cohesion and bonding, by walking together, it allows people to connect with their community, share their experiences, and support each other in their spiritual journey.

M ulai

In “MULAI”, participants pull a long piece of fabric called Kamen that is tied together from the Ikatan's mobile theatre, symbolizing the bond between the locals and travellers. The wearing of Kamen, a traditional Balinese fabric, and a shawl is commenced as a symbol of refrain and self-binding from earthly appetite. This is a way to demonstrate humility and respect towards the procession that is about to happen.

The wearing of traditional fabric and shawl as a symbol of refrain and self-binding from earthly lust and bad behavior.

B ersama

In “BERSAMA”, we begin with a sacred bond between man to man. Participants can get to know each other through the ritual of sharing Megibung, a traditional Balinese communal dining practice where people sit together on the floor around a large banana leaf filled with various dishes. Megibung symbolizes the importance of togetherness, cooperation, and mutual respect within the community. More than just a meal, it is a cultural practice with spiritual appeal. The feast is commenced traditionally, where no one is allowed leave the circle until everyone is finished with their meals. Tables are retracted mobile theatre, after which locals and travellers gather together to set up the traditional dining scene.

SACRED BOND BETWEEN HUMANS

A lam

After sharing meals, we proceed to “ALAM”. Participants break into groups of two, partnering with a local to commence the tradition of kite-flying. This tradition is believed to have started centuries ago as part of religious rituals to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest. Kites are believed to have body, bone, and spirit, flown to ward off evil spirits and as a way to communicate with ancestors. Now, kite-flying evolved into a recreational activity enjoyed by people of all ages, flown in various shapes and sizes, including the famous "Bebean" kites that resembles a fish, which are used in the performance. A tribute to Bali's rich heritage, this activity is a symbol of the Balinese people's creativity, ingenuity, and strong connection to their spiritual and cultural roots.

SACRED BOND BETWEEN HUMAN & NATURE

heningan

As the sky melts into the sunset, participants pause for a moment in “KEHENINGAN”. At six o'clock, a time of transition referred among the , a Balinese sacred prayer called Tri Sandya rings behind. It is believed to purify the mind and bring peace to the soul. We sit in silence, reflecting on our own thoughts and whispers. We admire the stunning sight of Bali's beautiful sunset landscape and pay respect for the spiritual aspects occurring at the moment of stillness.

SACRED BOND BETWEEN HUMAN & SPIRITS

K e mbali

When all Three Sacred Bonds are commenced, The cycle is complete. But like a wheel, we now return to the realm of man to man in the act of "KEMBALI". In the last joyous occasion, participants enjoy a celebration filled with traditional music and shows to conclude the theatre performance. This last act is parallel to a set of festive activities that are usually done at the end of Balinese ceremonial sessions, which includes enjoying an artistic performance of wayang show, listening to gamelan, and drinking arak together.

JL. TRENGGULI I, Penatih, East

Denpasar, Denpasar City, Bali 80237

Here, we capture the wonderful moments that brought the mobile theatre to life. The production process is captured as a visual journey that showcases the passion and commitment behind the artistic installation. We work with local carpenters and artists to make sure the mobile theatre is relatable for both the travellers and local communities. The installation uses natural sustainable materials, with wood from old Balai re-used as the main structure. This is a testament to the attention to detail that went into creating a self-contained, portable theatre that can be easily transported and set up in various locations.

M elaspas

BALINESE RITUAL

Like all buildings in Bali, one must go through the process of cleansing and purification rituals. The commencement of Melaspas, a Balinese blessing ceremony, is done towards the mobile theatre to ensure all performances and activities run smoothly with no hindrance. Now, the installation has completed all aspects of Tri Hita Karana, The Ikatan’s Mobile Theatre contains its own soul, a living embodiment of The Three Sacred Bonds.

MOBILE THEATRE

The design of the participatory mobile theatre is inspired by the Traditional Balinese structure, an architectural symbol of the bond between people, nature, and the Divine. The structural shape is a reflection of the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita , The Three Sacred Bonds. It represents a connection between the physical and the spiritual world. Similarly, The Ikatan’s Mobile Theatre is a bridge between the seen and unseen for the participants to embark on its rituals.

[SACRED BOND]

MAYA SHEY KYARA AVRILLIE CHUA JIA HONG