Nyai Roro Kidul (Queen of the Southern Ocean

Description

Open Edition Reproduction

The Indonesian Archipelago is one of the most active geological provinces in the world. It is a region of complex tectonic interactions between the Sunda Shelf of Asia, the Indian Plate and several micro-plates that have shaped the islands into stunning tropical volcanic landscapes and spectacular coastlines. Consequently, the timeless natural processes that have acted upon Indonesia have inspired numerous myths and legends ever since human settlement.

Nya Roro Kidul is the mythical female deity of Javanese legend said to dwell in the waters of the Indian Ocean and is generally regarded as an eastern analogue of Poseidon and various other mythical creatures e.g. sirens and mermaids. She is said to be exceptionally beautiful, whose moods are reflected by the conditions of the sea and is reputed to claim the lives of fishermen as well as any unfortunate visitors along the coasts of southern Java. She is still widely revered by the local population who often give her offerings to appease her, even going so far as to set a room aside for her at one of the resorts along the coast. Nyai Roro Kidul is also considered to be the spiritual consort of the Sultans of Mataram and Yogyakarta in central Java; a tradition that continues to this day with the current generation of the royal line.

This piece is an interpretation of the Javanese myth, showing Nyai Roro Kidul rising out of the waves to make an appearance, although the reasons for her visit to the surface in this scene are unclear here. The turbulent waters and the addition of the threatening cloudscape in the background symbolize her unpredictable nature as well as the awesome powers over the elements that she has at her disposal.