Traditional Barong dance
Barong is about the struggle of good and evil. Lion dragon Barong represents good and witch Rangda represents evil. Rangda is the mother of Erlangga and Rangda is condemned in the 10th century for practicing black magic. When Rangda becomes a widow, she summons all evil spirits to defeat Erlangga. After a fierce battle filled with black magic, Erlangga decides she needs help. She therefore calls for the help of Barong. Rangda invents a spell that makes soldiers want to kill themselves with some kind of sword. Barong then also invents a spell that makes the bodies of the soldiers resistant to this sword. With this spell Barong wins and Rangda flees. The Barong dance is performed whenever there is sickness or misfortune in the village and this dance is therefore meant to drive away "the evil". This dance is truly a spectacle with beautiful clothing and masks.
Photography is capturing a snapshot that will not come back.
With an eye for detail, beauty, simplicity and colour.
I would like to share these snapshots with you...
Read more…