Palm to Palm  

                                                                                                                                                             

This work continues my research on the decline of the camphor tree in North Sumatra, which I have been developing since 2016. My current focus is on how European scientists' knowledge production about the camphor tree in the mid-19th century, along with the invention of celluloid films in the Global North, contributed to the tree's extinction. This loss has significantly altered the kinship between the Batak people and the camphor forest, impacting our livelihoods, prompting population migrations, and necessitating participation in modernity, which has resulted in intergenerational loss.

In this performance, I explore storytelling as an intimate sharing practice through hand massage. The performance serves as a means to remember and embody the information gathered during my research. The camphor balm melts into scents and warmth on the skin, intertwining with the stories to transform into a living memory.

Performance and Installation Details:

• Activity: Palm massage and storytelling
• Duration: 2 hours (5 PM - 7 PM)
• Location: MuseumQuartier - Raum D, Vienna, Austria

Installation Credits:

• Creators: Lola Praktikum and MQ teams
• Photos: Lola Praktikum and Jacky Madu
• Consultants: Rizki Lazuardi and Patrick Tantra
• Curator: Verena Kaspar Eisert
• Film Development: Foto Fayer, Vienna
• Special Thanks: Filmkoop Wien for lending reels and assisting with film repairs. This performance is part of the MQ Artist in Residence Programme of Art and Ecology.

Archive Credits:

• Director: L. P. De Bussy
• Title: Lijkbezorging bij de Karo-Bataks (1917)
• Description: A two-part reportage on the funeral ceremonies and religious practices of the Karo-Batak, an ethnic group in North Sumatra.
• Produced by: Koloniaal Instituut (Amsterdam)
• Collection: Eye Museum, The Netherlands.