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Putri Prihatini

@putriprihatini.bsky.social

Under Indonesian sun. Love Tolkien, folklore, books. East Javanese living in East Borneo. She/Her. Banner by Amar Alfikar. I want Free Palestine, and transphobes getting shat on by vengeful pigeons. My blog: https://putri2wotan.wordpress.com/

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Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 5h ago

Pasola, a mounted spear-fighting competition of western Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, celebrates the rice-harvesting season. A part of Marapu belief that considers horses as sacred, any rider's blood that spills on the soil is seen as a sacrifice for a bountiful harvest. 🧵1/2 #WyrdWednesday

A photograph of Pasola rider on the back of a dark brown horse. The horse wears fringed adornments with red ropes on its head, mid-running. The rider raises a blunt spear, his face intense.A photograph of a Pasola rider team. All of them wear yellow shirts with thick sashes around their hips. They all wear tall headdresses, and their horses have fringed adornments. Every rider carries several blunt spears.A photograph of a Pasola rider in yellow shirt and wide sash around his waist. His horse and him both wear tall headdresses with long straps and yellow fringes. The rider carries three blunt spears.A photograph of a Pasola event. A rider in white shirt and riding bareback on a brown horse is seen throwing a blunt spear. Another team of riders is seen in the background wearing blue shirts.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · yesterday

Rivendell as a sanctuary reminds me of The Peach Blossom Spring (Tao Yuanming, 421 CE). It depicts a fisherman who got lost when sailing on a river surrounded by peach trees, and found a hidden ethereal village. The villagers' ancestors had fled the political turmoil and never left. #TolkienTrewsday

A colored illustration of Rivendell, a valley with lush vegetations and a river running through it. An Elven sanctuary can be seen perching above the river, surrounded by trees.An ink and watercolor traditional Chinese painting depicting a small village surrounded by peach trees and mountains.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last wk.

Pa'tedong (tedong: water buffalo) is one of the motifs carved on tongkonan houses in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. It represents prosperity and honor since buffalos indicate wealth. The numbers of horns displayed on these old tongkonan houses give you the clue to the family's standing. #WyrdWednesday

A photo of a black water buffalo head carving with long horns attached on the front part of a wooden tongkonan house. It is surrounded by colorful carved wooden panels. There are multiple buffalo horns attached near the head carving and on a pole in front of the house.A picture of a woodcarving panel depicting a black water buffalo with curved horns and tall red, black, yellow, and white crown.A photo of a tongkonan house wall filled with wooden panels, adorned by carvings of water buffalo heads, roosters, and geometric spirals and curves. One of the windows is open, and two little girls can be seen inside.A photo of a row of tongkonan houses. They are old and the roofs are covered by overgrown plants. The roofs are shaped like boats or buffalo horns.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last wk.

Another pairing between Tolkien character and batik motif! Nienna, the Lady of Pity and Mercy, could wear Udan Liris ("soft rain") for how her tears brought forth the Sun and Moon from the damaged Two Trees, or Sido Asih ("lasting love") because Pity was the foundation of LotR. #TolkienTrewsday

An illustration of Nienna by Jenny Dolfen. It depicts a painting of a dark haired woman wearing a grey dress and robe. Her eyes are somber and full of Pity.An Udan Liris batik motif. It consists of multiple diagonal stripes. Each stripe is filled with different patterns, such as a long stalk with leaves, wavy lines, and feathery stalk.A Sido Asih batik motif. It consists of repeated wing-like and floral shapes as the main patterns, surrounded by smaller leaves, stalks, umbrellas, and stalks.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2w ago

When Susan Abulhawa managed to enter Gaza in 2024 through the Rafah crossing, she mentored 18 young Palestinians so they could write their own experiences. Here they are, in a bilingual book (both English and the original Arabic texts). The opening notes are worthy of reading, too. #Booksky

A photo of my hand holding up a book titled Every Moment is a Life: Gaza in the Time of Genocide, an anthology of Palestinian writers compiled by Susan Abulhawa. The cover art is a painting of Palestinian refugees of Gaza huddles together, one standing under the same fabric, one holding a bag, one has an orange cat perching on their head. The sky above me is bright blue.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 3w ago

Gebug ende is a martial art game and a rainmaking ritual from Karangasem, Bali, that uses a rattan bat ("gebug") and cowhide shield ("ende"). Traditionally played during dry season, drawing blood is seen as a form of sacrifice to wish for rain. 1/2 #WyrdWednesday 📷: Edy Gautama for Lensa Jawa Pos

A photograph of two Balinese men making a jump to attack each other with a rattan bat on the beach. They scream at each other as they are ready to strike the opponent.A photograph of two Balinese men attacking each other with a rattan bat while their other hands hold cowhide shields. One jumps higher than the other in an effort to land a downward strike. They wear traditional headbands called udeng and black and white checkered sarong.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 3w ago

Gebug ende is a martial art game and a rainmaking ritual from Karangasem, Bali, that uses a rattan bat ("gebug") and cowhide shield ("ende"). Traditionally played during dry season, drawing blood is seen as a form of sacrifice to wish for rain. 1/2 #WyrdWednesday 📷: Edy Gautama for Lensa Jawa Pos

A photograph of two Balinese men making a jump to attack each other with a rattan bat on the beach. They scream at each other as they are ready to strike the opponent.A photograph of two Balinese men attacking each other with a rattan bat while their other hands hold cowhide shields. One jumps higher than the other in an effort to land a downward strike. They wear traditional headbands called udeng and black and white checkered sarong.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 3w ago

Bringing back my horse thread for #TolkienTrewsday theme of, well, "horses". Horses might have been treated as instruments of war, but in many cases, the bond between them and their caretakers can't be denied. Tolkien observed this both in his legendarium and his real-life experiences. 1/6

"Most obediently, and often Most painfully, they died Faithful unto death Not one of them is Forgotten before God." Inscriptions from The War Horse Memorial at St. Jude on the Hill churchA black and white photograph of a World War I era soldier lounging on the grass and reading, a horse lying down next to him, both looked relaxed.A painting depicting silhouettes of the hobbits and a pony. The three hobbits sit around a fire, while one scratching the face of the pony. A silhouette of a man is seen standing far away. All bathed in orange sunset light.A black and white painting depicting Gandalf and Pippin riding a white horse, Shadowfax.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 3w ago

I can't express my love for this Indigenous queer book enough. As an Indonesian, I'm exposed to many American/Canadian writers but rarely the Indigenous ones. Joshua Whitehead, a Two-Spirit of Anisininew First Nation, wrote poignant, chaotic, visceral queer story that I keep coming back to. #Booksky

A photo of Jonny Appleseed book by Joshua Whitehead. The book has a black cover with an illustration of a red bison studded with glitter. The book is placed on a wooden bench next to a ceramic cup with a handle shaped like a hornbill.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 4w ago

I've read two Priya Hein's books, all set in Mauritius, so I love seeing paintings by Mauritian artist Mila Gupta on the cover. She mostly painted tropical landscape, and there's harmony in those lush, vibrant explosions of colors. Books from Jakarta-based indie bookshop Transit Bookstore. #Booksky

A photo of two books by Priya Hein, propped against a fabric with bird's feathers as patterns. One is titled Tamarin, and it has an orange cover with a vibrant, colorful painting of a seafront terrace with colorful plants in pots. One is titled Riambel and the cover is yellow with a vibrant, colorful painting of a tropical outdoor landscape.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 4w ago

Reliefs on Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, showing the past life of Bodhisattva as a giant turtle. He saved shipwrecked sailors from being eaten by a sea monster (you can see them cling to the turtle with relief). Finally, he taught them about the Dharma of self-sacrifice. #WyrdWednesday

A relief on Borobudur temple showing a giant sea turtle swimming among the waves, surrounded by fish.A relief on Borobudur Temple showing a ship on the sea, almost drowned, with the sailors panicking and a sea monster opens its mouth, ready to devour them.A relief on Borobudur Temple showing the sailors huddling on the back of a giant sea turtle, crying in relief as they are saved from drowning.A relief on Borobudur Temple showing a sea turtle standing on a platform, with a group of men sitting cross-legged in front of it, their hands clasped in reverence in front of their chests.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 4w ago

Tolkien's heraldic devices for fictional towns in the Lonely Isle from his early legendarium: Celbaros, Kortirion, and Taurobel (1917). They represent important places for Tolkien and his wife Edith: Cheltenham, Warwick, Great Haywood ("Ranon" and "Echtelin" are Ronald and Edith). #TolkienTrewsday

A photo depicting the sketches of heraldic devices. The top one is three trees and a stone bridge, represent Taurobel. The middle is a tower and a sun surrounded by trees, represent Kortirion. The bottom one have an elm tree and a pointed tower, with the names Echtelin for the tree and Ranon for the tower, representing Celbaros.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

One of the megalithic statues in Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, is called Palindo Lara, "the one who comforts/makes you smile" in Bada dialect, because of its expression. The ridge on its head mimics a bark headband, a part of Lore people's traditional tree bark fashion. #WyrdWednesday

A landscape photo of Palindo Lara statue, a tall stone statue with a round face, big, round eyes, a subtle smile, and fingers that point to its penis. It stands in a tilted pose, the bottom part buried under the grass-covered ground and surrounded by beautiful vast, cloudy sky and valley view.A black and white repronegative photo of Palindo Lara statue, a tall stone statue with a round face, big, round eyes, a subtle smile, and fingers that point to its penis. It is surrounded by two European women in knee-length coats and dresses and a European man in a suit, boots, and outdoor hat. The ground around the statue is covered by bushes.A photo of a Lore woman wearing a short-sleeves bark cloth blouse with yellow and red floral motifs and delicate patterns on the hems. She wears a wide bark cloth headband with similar delicate patterns, adorned with colorful feathers. She wears a wide dark brown skirt and carries a sling bag with the same material and patterns with her blouse and dress.A photo of Lore woman wearing a set of bark cloth outfit in a form of loose, short-sleeved blouse with colorful floral and vine patterns, wide, long dark brown skirt, and a wide headband with intricate patterns. She stands with her hands clasped on her belly, surrounded by trees and valley scenery.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

For #TolkienTrewsday theme of "forgiveness": I always see thematic connection of transformation and redemption in Roverandom (a dog being turned into a toy after biting a wizard) and Sundanese folktale Lutung Kasarung (a deity being turned into a monkey and had to help a banished princess). 1/3

A colorful, whimsical illustration by Nadya Noor depicting a black haired princess called Purbasari gently holding a squirrel in her palms. Behind her, hanging on a thick vine, is the silhouette of Lutung Kasarung. The forest around her is adorned with batik flowers and clouds.A pencil illustration byAlan Lee of Rover, a spotted dog, sitting on the back of a giant flying albatross.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

Jakarta-based Transit Bookstore never disappoints me with their curated international titles. I just got from there the second novel by Mauritian author Priya Hein and a Palestinian speculative fiction anthology with the theme "the day before the Nakba." #Booksky

A photo of two books. One is Tamarin by Priya Hein, with orange cover and adorned with a colorful artwork of a porch laden with garden plants. One is Palestine -1: Stories from the Eve of the Nakba, with the cover art filled with tatreez patterns and an image of a key.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

Queer Palestinian author Tareq Baconi, from a trip with his husband to find his grandma's home that she had left during the Nakba: "Within the most private dwellings stand Palestinian walls bearing witness. Beneath the distractions of the settler nation, Palestine is everywhere." #Pride #Booksky

A photo of a book titled Fore in Every Direction: A Memoir by Tareq Baconi. The cover is yellow with the cover art of a colorful, impressionist painting of a man sitting on a red couch in a house with floral wallpaper, his head in his hand. The book is placed on a keffiyeh, next to several postcards depicting an artwork of male Javanese dancers and a painting of Palestinian feast on a table.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

Trans Palestinian author Yaffa, photographed by Maria del Rio for Atmos. They have released several poetry books as a response to attack toward their Palestinian and trans identities (another poetry book, Thistle, was inspired by years of supporting their sibling through cancer). #Booksky #Pride

A photograph of Yaffa, who poses with their hands hanging on a branch under a tree with orange leaves. They wear a keffiyeh wrapped around their head, with watermelon slice-shaped earrings, a black thobe with colorful traditional embroideries adorning the hems, chest panel, and waistline.A cover of Blood Orange by Yaffa. It has an illustration of Al-Aqsa mosque under a giant orange that resembles the sun. Underneath Al-Aqsa is an image of orange dripping.A cover of Desecrated Poppies by Yaffa. It depicts an outline of a poppy growing from a mound that resembles a keffiyeh. Blood flows from the root of the poppy.A cover of Sage by Yaffa, depicting a simple black text that says Sage over a white background. The letters are adorned by realistic images of sage leaves.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · last mo.

Whether called Lukat Geni, Mesabatan Api, or Siat Geni depending on the area, Balinese "fire battle" is famously conducted as a part of Pangrupukan ritual before Nyepi. Locals attack each other with burning fronds or coconut husks because fire is a spiritually-cleansing element. #WyrdWednesday

A photo of mesabatan api ritual. A Balinese man jumped into a pile of burning coconut husks and his body is enveloped by orange embers. A bunch of other people surround him and one is ready to jump into the fray.A photo of siat geni ritual. A Balinese man kicks a burning coconut husks while standing on a pile of flaming coconut husks.A photo of a lukat geni ritual. A Balinese man wearing a white udeng (traditional headdress) and a white sarong stands bare-chested, holding a coconut front torch. He yells as his friend slams a fiery frond on his back, causing yellow embers to fly everywhere.A photo of mesiat geni. Two Balinese men poise to throw flaming coconut husks to each other.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Happy Saturday with my favorite #Pride books so far: Indonesian queer history, queer poetry that utilizes bahasa binan (colloquial language of Indonesian trans community since the 70s), memoirs by queer Palestinian and queer Muslim activist, and Indigenous queer novel by Two-Spirit writer. #Booksky

A photo of five books arranged on a wooden terrace bench on a sunny day. They are Stonewall Tak Mampir di Atlantis by Hendri Yulius Wijaya, Lesbian Biseksual Trans: Sejarah Gerakan Politik di Indonesia by Saskia Wieringa, Fire in Every Direction by Tareq Baconi, Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H, and Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In Palestinian folktale "The Little She-Goat", a hyena tricked and ate the she-goat's kids. She begged a blacksmith to make her long, sharp horns, then challenged the hyena outside his lair. As he rushed outside, her horns stabbed him and she tore open his belly. Heartwarming stuff. #WyrdWednesday

A photo of an open book depicting the opening of The Little She-Goat. It starts with the opening greeting by the storyteller to the audience before continuing with the scene of the she-goat teaching her kids how to recognize her voice before opening the door: by seeing if her tail is chopped or not. The hyena saw them and wished to eat them.A photo of a book titled Speak, Bird, Speak Again: Palestinian Arab Folktales. The cover is black with a simplistic drawing of a flying bird in white lines. The book is placed on a keffiyeh.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Singaporean artist Leia Ham reimagined LotR as Tale of the Middle Kingdom, since Chinese name for China (Zhōngguó) means "The Middle Kingdom." Her concept art includes the Fellowship, armors, buildings like Bag End, props like Aragorn's banner and Fellowship brooches, and more. #TolkienTrewsday

An illustration of the Fellowship, reimagined with Chinese-style period outfits.An illustration of armors of Gondor, Rohan, and Rivendell Elves, reimagined using different periods of Chinese armors as concepts. On the top right are three side profiles of Rohan man, Gondorian, and Elf with different Chinese hairstyles. On the bottom right is Aragorn's banner redrawn with Chinese influence.A concept art of Bag End reimagined as Chinese court houses, with tall stone gates, round wooden doors, curved roofs, and open courtyard, nestled in a hill.A concept art of Rivendell in the style of Chinese painting. Next to it are several props drawn in Chinese style such as Fellowship brooch based on gingko leaves, lembas in the shape of mooncake, Elfstone as round jade, Galadriel's phial in a green jade bottle, and shards of Narsil.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2mo ago

When I go to Yogyakarta, I usually visit Hamzah Batik shop. It's a venue for Kabaret Raminten, a drag cabaret show that supports local queer community, often showcases traditional culture. Raminten is an alter ego of the shop's founder Hamzah Sulaiman: a Javanese woman he played in a TV show. #Pride

A photo of a Kabaret Raminten performance. It shows three dancers in traditional Javanese dancer drags, wearing red sleeveless tops, batik skirts, colorful sashes, and curved crowns with green feathers.A photo of Kabaret Raminten performance. It showcases a drag performer in a regal ancient Javanese dress, wearing a tall golden crown, grey shiny sleeveless top, a long batik skirt, and tiered necklace. She is singing a number with a dignified face.A photo of Kabaret Raminten show, showcasing a drag performer in black and yellow polkadot short dress and blonde wig, singing while surrounded by three drag dancers in red polkadot short dresses and black thick updo. Three male dancers in red and black suits and tunics dance behind them.Photos of Hamzah Sulaiman, a Javanese Chinese man in traditional blangkon cap and black, high-necked tunic, side by side with his alter ego, Raminten, a Javanese woman in black traditional hairbun, glasses, red lipstick, and floral kebaya top.
Putri Prihatini@putriprihatini.bsky.social · 2mo ago

When I go to Yogyakarta, I usually visit Hamzah Batik shop. It's a venue for Kabaret Raminten, a drag cabaret show that supports local queer community, often showcases traditional culture. Raminten is an alter ego of the shop's founder Hamzah Sulaiman: a Javanese woman he played in a TV show. #Pride

A photo of a Kabaret Raminten performance. It shows three dancers in traditional Javanese dancer drags, wearing red sleeveless tops, batik skirts, colorful sashes, and curved crowns with green feathers.A photo of Kabaret Raminten performance. It showcases a drag performer in a regal ancient Javanese dress, wearing a tall golden crown, grey shiny sleeveless top, a long batik skirt, and tiered necklace. She is singing a number with a dignified face.A photo of Kabaret Raminten show, showcasing a drag performer in black and yellow polkadot short dress and blonde wig, singing while surrounded by three drag dancers in red polkadot short dresses and black thick updo. Three male dancers in red and black suits and tunics dance behind them.Photos of Hamzah Sulaiman, a Javanese Chinese man in traditional blangkon cap and black, high-necked tunic, side by side with his alter ego, Raminten, a Javanese woman in black traditional hairbun, glasses, red lipstick, and floral kebaya top.