Jakarta. "From Starting to Cut the Wood," an interpretative dance composed by German artist and choreographer Katia Engel, was staged at Komunitas Salihara, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on Saturday (17/06).

The dance is inspired by mask-carving, a traditional craft that requires time, diligence and patience, a process untouched by modernization and mass production. It also reflects Engel's personal experience as a mask maker.

The performance depicts the process from sawing wood, chiseling the shape, polishing it with sandpaper, and painting. The sounds of mask-making blend with a solo dance by Ari Ersandi, whose movements become more defined and upbeat as the crafting progresses.

In the final part, an actual mask carver, Enosh Mujiran, comes on the stage and shows a glimpse of on-the-spot mask-making, before the lights turn off.

A trial version of "From Starting to Cut the Wood" was performed in 2015 in Yogyakarta, with support from Institut Francais Yogyakarta.

This year's performance is part of Salihara's Helatari dance festival.

Salihara contemporary dance