Heri Dono: Fermentation of the Mind

Heri Dono’s kinetic installation Fermentation of the Mind (1992–1993) resembles a classroom, featuring rows of old wooden desks topped with white fibreglass heads. When activated by a pedal, the heads nod in unison and emit distorted chanting sounds. The work is inspired by Indonesia’s sociopolitical landscape in the early 1990s, particularly the state’s influence on public opinion and independent thought through propaganda. Drawing on the rich Javanese tradition of wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), Dono uses satire to reflect on history, society, and culture.