RELAX, IT’S JUST RELIGION
IN SEARCH OF TOGETHERNESS IN THE POLITICAL YEARS
Relax, It’s Just Religion is a movement initiated by Feby Indirani and Pabrikultur together with several artists and educators in 2017. Along with the launch of the first book of Feby’s magical Islamism trilogy, Bukan Perawan Maria, in July 15, 2017, this movement held exhibitions and performances at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta. The artists created visual responds to Feby’s 19 short stories, in addition to discussions and poetry readings attended by the then Minister of Religion, Lukman Hakim. There was also training by a life coach who was a University of Indonesia psychologist, Ferlita Sari.
This movement is born and then grows organically, not through strict organizing. It grows out of the excitement of the idea that religious tensions happening in Indonesia, partly as a consequence of the identity politics rampant in the political years of 2014 and 2019, could be reduced through art. Artistic responses can be done through the medium of fiction/prose, dance, music, graphics, theater, etc. This movement has manifested into collaborative activities in Makassar, Bandung, Bogor, Kerawang, Berlin, London, and also in cyberspace.
In 2018, Cipta Media Kreasi, a program supported by the Ford Foundation and Wikimedia provided grants for female artists. Feby collaborated with curators Sundea Salamatari (Bandung), Riyana Rizki (Lombok), and other artists in the two cities, to organize a mini festival, Relax, It’s Just Religion. In 2019, there were collaborations with contemporary musicians Bilawa, Ariel, Mabou (Turkish dancer), and Soy Division in Berlin and London. This movement has also been resuming in various forms, including as a program at the Madani International Film Festival.
In 2020, since the pandemic required an online format event, the program Madani – Relax, It’s Just Religion turned into an online screening of selected films and discussions with female artists and curators who had previously collaborated. In 2021, Madani – Relax, It’s Just Religion held the Vertical Film Competition, in collaboration with Bentang Publisher and IIFA (Indonesian IATS-Alumni Forum).
This year, Relax, It’s Just Religion will anticipate the upcoming political year 2024. It will raise the topic “Relax, It’s Just Politics”. We have learned in distress about the political years post-Reformation 1998 that turned into violent times. Social contracts and togetherness have fused into a distant horizon in the recent illusion of political truth.
There is still time to rebuild the foundation of togetherness. One way to do it is by deconstructing identity politics and practical politics in Indonesia. Through film screenings and discussions, Relax, It’s Just Religion of the 2022 Madani will contribute. Let’s do a political relaxation together, through art and civil (madani) openness.
RELAX, IT’S JUST POLITICS: HOW TO STAY SANE IN THE YEARS OF POLITICS
Indonesia of 2024 will be a political year. Of course, all the time we are, in a way, political. From the state level to the personal level. However, with the existing precedents in Indonesia, the years of the presidential and regional elections become years of tension and even violence.
Politics becomes banal, and an excuse for horizontal contentions and conflicts. Slander, hoax, doxing, and intimidation are prominent features in this banal politics. The space for social changes, conversations, and community consensus, which are the hope of the political democratization in the presidential and regional elections, are instead hijacked into spaces for fanaticism and “new tribalism”.
Continuing the Relax, It’s Just Religion campaign, which has been running in several cities in Indonesia and Europe since 2017, Relax, It’s Just Politics wants to respond to the prospect of the prolonged banal politics in Indonesia.
Speakers
Ian Wilson (Researcher on Politics)
Sakdiyah Ma’ruf (Comic, Researcher on Islamic Culture)
Moderator
Hikmat Darmawan (Film Critic)
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 2.30 - 4 pm | Galeri Cipta 1 TIM
MEMBURU MUHAMMAD
Rizal Pamungkas | Drama Comedy | 2022 | 5 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | 13+
Jalal is seen burning with anger leading a crowd of people shouting the name “Muhammad”. After the screams, there is a very loud slap thrown at a man who is approaching the cheering mass. Is it Muhammad who just gets slapped, who is hunted by the mass? Why is he slapped and hunted?
SPATIOHUMANISM
Moses Parlindungan Ompusunggu | Documentary, Experimental, Film Essay | 2022 | 5 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | All Age
A letter with images and music so immersive, evoking a reflection of space and humanity.
SETELAH PERPINDAHAN TERAKHIR
Bram Wiratma | Drama | 2022 | 6 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | 13+
Lisa, a daughter of a prostitute, decides to embrace Islam. Nearing the conversion, she hasn’t yet met one condition that the ustaz gives her: she has to ask for her mother’s blessing. In the end, Lisa asks the ustaz to give her a dispensation. The ustaz then holds a deliberation in the neighborhood to discuss the problem. The majority of the deliberation’s participants agree, except Raki who thinks that it is improper for a prostitution’s daugher to embrace Islam.
PERTANYAAN MALAIKAT
Ilham Imanuddin | Comedy | 2021 | 4 min | Indonesia | Sub : English | All Age
Pertanyaan Malaikat is a short film adaptation of Bukan Perawan Maria, the first book in the Magical Islamism trilogy by Feby Indirani. This film tells the magical experience of a muslim who finally finds the light of faith in the midst of a unique and witty contemplation. This film takes us into the character’s imagination and inner struggle in questioning the existence of God and his life after death. This film is enjoyable for by all people and can remind us again about the fundamental things in religion through simple questions in people’s daily lives.
TENTANG TUHAN
Irgi Ghazali | Drama | 2022 | 5 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | All Age
Aisyah is a girl who is 9 years old girl and a week. Everyday she helps her mother collect used bottles and used cardboard boxes. One afternoon while collecting used bottles, she sees a group of children coming home from Quran reciting, asking their teacher who God is. For Aisyah who overhears, the question is etched in her head. The question, unanswered by the Quran teacher, makes Aisyah curious, and it is only to her mother that Aisyah finally asks, who is God?
AWANG
Nayoko Bagus | Drama | 2022 | 5 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | 13+
Awang is a child born to a family with religious backgrounds. At first, because of Har’s love, Tina converts from Islam to Christianity. Tina then dies giving birth to Awang and was buried according to Christian way. Little Awang, who lives with his grandmother, Tina’s mother, is educated according to Islam. A conflict of beliefs leads to complicated moments in Awang’s end of life. Har and Awang’s grandmother fight over Awang’s body so that the child is buried in the best procession according to the two different beliefs.
SEPOTONG COKLAT UNTUKMU
Iradat Ungkai Megah | Drama | 2022 | 7 min | Indonesia | Sub: English | 13+
One sunny afternoon, Maria (28 years old) goes to a place to meet Jeni (27 years old). They exchange news and talk about many things, from chocolate, movies, childhood, to many other things. In the middle of the talk, a memory of an incident happened to Jeni in the past emerges. Maria can’t hold back her sad tears.
BEKAS TANDA SUJUD
Thomas Kurniawan | Drama | 2022 | 3 min | Indonesia | Sub: Indonesia | All Age
A mark that was previously coveted is now a curse that triggers questions. Starting from some common knowledge, he is determined to go against the rules. However, unwittingly his reckless actions manage to change his life. Filled with doubt that ends up being a question, is it a reward or a symptom?