The Wayang Mimpi Series

Ratri Notosudirdjo received a grant for the development of new work. The Wayang Mimpi series (Shadow Puppet Theatre of Dreams) is an experimental performance using shadow puppetry. Seven stories intertwine the experiences of the Indonesian diaspora and indigenous communities from both the Netherlands and Indonesia. After six months of intensive research and interviews, the project explores light scores, soundscapes, movement theatre, and puppetry as forms of expression used to preserve unheard stories. Inspired by artists like Dalang Gudono, this series deconstructs traditional Wayang puppet theatre to reveal kaleidoscopic connections between stories, times, and places. Through dreams, gestures, symbols, humor, and sound, the Wayang Mimpi series shares intimate and surreal experiences of resistance, migration, and solidarity across generations, bringing to light stories that have remained in the shadows.

Ratri is an Indonesian performance artist and researcher based in Rotterdam. Over the past years, they have developed a kaleidoscopic style of queer and diasporic storytelling and performance-making. Through extensive research, Notosudirdjo broadens their understanding, perspective, and context by drawing on a wide array of experiences. Their highly collaborative and collective approach often results in spontaneous and surprising outcomes. Using surrealism as a tool to resist categorizing ideas within existing frameworks and narratives, they explore the relationships between subconscious, somatic, and intergenerational influences of coloniality. Inspired by magical realism, they preserve intimate and lesser-known stories over time while practicing anecdotal storytelling through queer expression. Their work demonstrates the power of storytelling by capturing the complexity of belonging, history, cultural memory, and the plurality of what is seen and unseen.