Wayang Godhonk: The Transgressive Resistance in Fine Art

The controversy surrounding the subject of tobacco is a phenomenal issue that has become the topic of major discourse worldwide and had a huge impact on the entire Indonesian society. Various forms of resistance have appeared, from local farmers, organizers, members of the elite community and even government officials, indicating that the social and political unrest taking place has not resulted in any common ground that has the ability to produce a solution to the problem. Nevertheless, the tobacco community continues to show resistance in various forms. The art composition entitled “Wayang Godhonk” is presented here as an alternative art form which invites people to remember once again the true essence of living creatures in this universe. In the past, tobacco leaves have been viewed merely as a commodity, not as a living being with energy or power. Since the emergence of an industrial culture, man has always failed to negotiate with nature and the environment. Man has become a ghostly figure that preys on other living creatures on this earth. For this reason, “Wayang Godhonk” appears as a form of art that has the ability to raise people’s awareness and to purify the spiritualism of mankind towards all other living creatures.