The art of rock stacking has become popular in Indonesia over the past week after local government officials recently took down around 90 delicately balanced rocks on a river in the Sukabumi Regency of West Java over fears that they could lead to idolatry and religious deviation.
The person(s) who stacked the rock has not yet been identified and people in Sukabumi are getting anxious to know their identity for different reasons.
Agus Muzamil, secretary for the nearby village of Jayabakti, said local officials would warmly greet the rock stacker if they revealed themselves and even give them an award for their highly artistic work.
“Our village has also become famous,” Agus said, as quoted by Kompas today.
“If the maker is [a local], then we will facilitate the continuation of their hobby.”
Unlike Agus, some locals want the rock stacker to take responsibility for damages to the area surrounding the river due to people flocking to see the impromptu outdoor art exhibition.
“I was reprimanded by three rice field owners because their property was damaged after being stepped on by people walking over to see the rocks,” said local man Ade Suhandi, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
While the identity of the artist remains a mystery, a rock stacking community in Indonesia claims to know his identity and posted a photo of a man they said was the stacker last Friday, though with his face obscured by a motorcycle helmet. In the post, the community promises “even more surprises” from them in the future.
