Measurements play a crucial role in shaping our lives and form the foundation of our mindset, instincts, and intelligence. Our perception of the world and our ability to shape the environment around us directly correlate with measurements and proportions in relation to the human body. This performance draws inspiration from a humble grain of rice, a traditional unit of measurement rooted in the shared agrarian heritage of Southeast Asia. This common measurement unit facilitated commerce in the region, highlighting its significance.
Beyond commerce, measurements also serve broader purposes, functioning as a system of quantification for construction and habitation. In a diverse archipelago like Indonesia, the multitude of measurement systems contributes to the intricate process of world-building itself. ‘The Size of Rice’ delves into measurements of objects, such as a grain of rice, as well as the measurements between objects and the human body.
To bring this exploration to life, I invited four performers with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Indonesia to collaborate. Building on each dancer’s ontological understanding of preferred correlations—specifically length, weight, time, and distance (inter-space)—I crafted a unique object for each individual. Once the art objects took form, I instructed the performers to interact directly with the costumes/objects at designated sites, resulting in the creation of the video installation ‘The Size of Rice I’ in 2021.
‘The Size of Rice II,’ staged in Jakarta Luwes theater in 2022 as part of the Indonesian Dance Festival, continued the exploration. For each performer, I provided wooden sticks corresponding to their body part measurements, allowing them to select and arrange them in correlation with their perceptions and understanding of measurement.
Concept: Mella Jaarsma
Performers: Siska Aprisia (weight), Pebri Irawan (Time), Ari Dwianto (Distance) and Abdi Karya (Length)
Wood constructions: Octo Cornelius
Light: Banjar Andura