Roro Kidul

(These ten photographs are part of a bigger work) "Roro Kidul" is a creative documentary project consists of photographs made in the islands of Indonesian archipelago. The title is a short version of legendary name of Indonesian female spirit, Nyi Roro Kidul, coming from Javanese mythology. She is known as the Queen of the Southern Sea. This water deity is in control of the violent waves of the Indian Ocean and other natural water reservoirs. For that reason, local people are scared to swim in the seas, lakes and rivers. Rationally, the danger is connected with strong currents or storms but in javanese thinking it’s power of Roro Kidul. The Queen often claims lives of fishermen or visitors that swim in her water. This myth is still very alive in Indonesian mindset, which is very spiritual and mystical. Here, ghosts are omnipresent. Many accidents or daily life situations are interpreted as intervention of spirits. Legend about Nyi Roro Kidul is a background of my project. Through intimate portraits and mysterious atmosphere in the photos I wanted to show subjective view of Indonesian world and spiritual side of its inhabitants. People which I photographed seems to be scared of someone's presence. But whose? Ghosts?