Kasekten is a Javanese word that describes a spiritual power transcending time and space; a dynamic state maintaining harmony between realms of the seen and unseen. 

Indonesian-Australian diaspora artists Juliet Burnett (dancer, choreographer, director), Karina Utomo (vocalist High Tension, Rinuwat, Kilat), Rama Parwata (percussionist Rinuwat, Kilat) and Jaya Parwata (bassist Agung Mango, gamelan Rinuwat) join with Australian visual artist Michaela Gleave to create a work that fuses dance theatre, performance art and experimental metal and gamelan music, in an art installation setting that takes the audience to the precipice of the Earth’s core: a mysterious void, a womb for the genesis of the powerful forces behind creation and destruction. 

The work unfolds after sunset - which marks the beginning of a new day in Java - and follows the dalang, a mystical leader chosen by the spirit realm to pass down stories as puppeteer and narrator of the wayang kulit (shadow puppet) play. The eternal birth, life and death cycle is depicted in a ceremonial morphosis.  Honouring co-existing shadow and light worlds and all that hovers in between, the work inverts embedded patriarchal histories to forge new stories of power.

Director & Choreographer Juliet Burnett

Composers Karina Utomo, Rama Parwata, Jaya Parwata

Installation Artist Michaela Gleave

Installation Designers Cave Urban

Lighting Designer Matthew Adey

Costume Designer Felicia Budi

Costume Supervisor Aleisa Jelbart

Performers Juliet Burnett, Karina Utomo, Rama Parwata, Jaya Parwata

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and Gold Coast City Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund.