Art is at its most powerful when it causes us to break out of old familiar patterns and see life in a new and, hopefully, better way. That is just one of the lessons of “The Miner”, a powerful video from musical artist Filastine which was shot guerilla style in the sulfur mines of Java and the coal pits of Borneo.
From the video’s description: “The Miner chronicles one person’s epiphany and refusal to continue wrecking himself and the earth. Filastine teamed up with cinematographer Astu Prasidya and Jakarta street dancer Al Imran Karim to descend into clouds of poisonous gas to stage a dance performance in the Kawah Ijen sulfur mines of Java, and disguised themselves in company uniforms to infiltrate the coal pits of Borneo. Coal is dirtiest of all fossil fuels, a chief culprit in climate change, and Indonesia is the world’s largest exporter.”
Real art can be dangerous, as the shoot for this video proves. A Rolling Stone Indonesia article on its production mentions that crew members were arrested and questioned by authorities while shooting at one of the mines.
Grey Filastine describes his work as “gritty electronic music that collides the lowest frequencies of bass music with the highest-level beat science, acoustic instruments and field recordings”. It often features Javanese indie rapper Nova providing vocals that range from soaring to spitfire. Those who have been lucky enough to watch them perform live know that their shows are an intense combination of electronic soundscapes, live percussion and carefully crafted visuals that add layers to each song.
“The Miner” is the first video in “The Abandon Series” which will focus on people breaking free of the shackles in their own lives. Later videos will be set in Lisbon, Seattle and Barcelona. They are set to be released later this year.
In the meantime, you can also watch the video for “Colony Collapse” which was also shot in several locations in Indonesia, including the Lapindo Mud Disaster site.
