Free City Radio
Tuesday October 22nd, 2024 with Stefan Christoff
Filmmaker Riar Rizaldi on Tellurian Drama

A discussion with filmmaker and artist Riar Rizaldi who speaks about their project Tellurian Drama. This conversation revolves around the ways that recognized narratives around land and spirituality can shift depending on the domestic political agenda. This work shifts from the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia until the present and is described in this way: "May 5th, 1923. The Dutch East Indies government celebrated the opening of a new radio station in West Java. It was called Radio Malabar. In March 2020, the local Indonesian government plans to reactivate the station as a historical site and tourist attraction. Tellurian Drama imagines what would have happened in between: the vital role of mountain in history; colonial ruins as an apparatus for geoengineering technology; and the invisible power of indigenous ancestral. Narrated based on the forgotten text written by a prominent pseudo-anthropologist Drs. Munarwan, Tellurian Drama problematizes the notion of decolonisation, geocentric technology, and historicity of communication." For more information on Riar's work visit: rizaldiriar.com The accompanying music is by Anarchist Mountains. Thanks to the Social Justice Centre for supporting my work on this weekly program.