Sacred Moments in Indonesia

At the National Archives Building, Jakarta, Henri Cartier-Bressons photos portrayed a new era for this republic. But they also depicted the love once nurtured in the heart of this world-class photographer. His lover was Retna Mohini, a Javanese dancer. The exhibition, to be held also in several cities, at the same time shows that Cartier-Bresson, 94, is a lyrical prose creator through his camera shots.

June 4, 2002

Batu Bulan, Bali, 1949.

The men seemed to be committing mass suicide. Its a stabbing rite. Repeatedly they forced krises to pierce their chests. They were driving out rangda (evil) from within themselves. And to date, Batu Bulan has continued to present the kris dance to tourists. Every day they watch the Barong (mythological monster) dance, representing an endless struggle against the dark side of man. The dancers involved are even fluttering. B

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