ANTARIKSA

Historian and researcher Antariska’s work centres primarily on art collectivism and the mobility of ideas in Japanese-occupied Southeast Asia during World War II. Recently he began presenting his research in an exhibition format, using hard research sources along with softer approaches such as performance, music, theatre and audience participation.

Through his research, Antariksa discovered archives related to the use of chocolate bars given to Japanese kamikaze aviators during the war. These chocolate bars had an intriguing origin, as the cocoa beans were sourced from Taiwan, a then Japanese colony, processed in occupied Indonesia, and then shipped to Japan. Notably, the wrapping of these chocolate bars was entrusted to school children, who unknowingly contributed to divert them from their primary nutritional function: the bars were laced with methamphetamine, intended to stimulate the pilots for their final and deadly flights.

In addition, Antariksa found a collection of poignant last letters written by Japanese soldiers to their families. These letters, containing their final wishes and thoughts, convey a mix of uplifting and poignant sentiments. Through the juxtaposition of the soldiers' last letters and evocative poetic imagery, his immersive video installation prompts reflection on the nature of time and our capacity to grasp our own destinies.