Tadas Kazakevicius » bird can’t help singing

Early twilight is coming over the sky of the streets of Muara Angke port filled with the voices of the children. Their hands are still full of racing pigeons and yards are filled with the last songs of songbirds before the sunset.

The life of Indonesians is firmly connected with birds from early childhood. And how can it be any other way – it is a country constructed of thousands of islands that are inhabited by its people and their own voices of birds. Their songs are the sound of calmness, sound of happiness, sound of family. The chirping of the bird next to their window is the sentiment of their close ones, the place they are from – it’s the sound of home.

Historically for the country of sailors and fishermen, often far away from their home on their long trips for the pursuit of a better, easier life, bird song often stays as the only form of home they can have. Bird is the sound of their place.

No one questions its symbolic meaning and everyone asked just proves the point. But then, paradoxicaly, the symbol of home, freedom and even its own country is locked in the cage.

Maybe the bird can’t help singing even if it is caged – its freedom is inside its heart.

–

Images are taken in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and central Java, Indonesia in 2023.

Ribut is holding his canary in hand. In childhood Ribut caught his first bird with bare hands.

Muslim teacher Ustadz is talking to his bird Rego in front of his home in Muara Angke port.

One of the small alleys of Muara Angke full of bird cages.

Boy is playing with his doves in Gang Koba village in Jakarta.

Firsherman Masani in his home has over 20 birds, but one is special. Though the years Masani taught this magpie to freely enjoy his company.

Dove kept in small cage in one of the alleys of Muara Angke port in Jakarta.

Sculpture of Garuda Pancasila (Indonesian National emblem) in front of one of the living neighbourhoods in Central Java.

Hartadi breeds zebra doves on his house roof. They are for long have been considered sacred by the Javanese people.

Hartadi holds an egg of zebra dove.

Suwardi standing in the doors of his house with his bird is 80 years old. He keeps white doves to keep his company after his wife passed away.

Boy in one of Muara Angke streets plays with cardboard wings imitating bird.

Munip yard is full of birds. While he smokes his pipe he often listens to them as thei remind him his home in Madura.

Edi and his mother Wiwi tend to the bird that reminds him his late father. For mother this bird became last memory of her son and her husband time together.

Acid bough first two pairs of pigeons for her son Abdul but evntually she fell in love with the process of feeding them herself and soon more and more birds joined her home.

Bird communal nesting-boxes built by children in Gang Koba village in Jakarta.

Children in the streets of Muara Angke port often spend their time with their racing pigeons. It's one of the most beloved sports for children.

Abandoned bird carousel in one of beach towns in Central Java.

Birds in their cages kept in the upper part of the shop in the Yogyakarta bird market.

Fishing boats in Muara Angke port decorated with bird signs.

Signs of Garuda Pancasila in front of one of the living neighbourhoods gates in Muara Angke.

Ustadz showing his hat decorated with a feather of bird.

Ribut is holding cage with his canary.

Pigeon landing site in the field of Gang Koba village in Jakarta.

Boy in fishermen village is wearing flip flops with bird wings. Eventhough they are from popular culture still it becomes symbolical.

Man is taking his birds in special bicycle cage to Yogyakarta bird market.

Early twilight is coming over the sky of the streets of Muara Angke port filled with the voices of the children. Their hands are still full of racing pigeons and yards are filled with the last songs of songbirds before the sunset.

The life of Indonesians is firmly connected with birds from early childhood. And how can it be any other way – it is a country constructed of thousands of islands that are inhabited by its people and their own voices of birds. Their songs are the sound of calmness, sound of happiness, sound of family. The chirping of the bird next to their window is the sentiment of their close ones, the place they are from – it’s the sound of home.

Historically for the country of sailors and fishermen, often far away from their home on their long trips for the pursuit of a better, easier life, bird song often stays as the only form of home they can have. Bird is the sound of their place.

No one questions its symbolic meaning and everyone asked just proves the point. But then, paradoxicaly, the symbol of home, freedom and even its own country is locked in the cage.

Maybe the bird can’t help singing even if it is caged – its freedom is inside its heart.

–

Images are taken in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and central Java, Indonesia in 2023.
Ribut is holding his canary in hand. In childhood Ribut caught his first bird with bare hands.
Muslim teacher Ustadz is talking to his bird Rego in front of his home in Muara Angke port.
One of the small alleys of Muara Angke full of bird cages.
Boy is playing with his doves in Gang Koba village in Jakarta.
Firsherman Masani in his home has over 20 birds, but one is special. Though the years Masani taught this magpie to freely enjoy his company.
Dove kept in small cage in one of the alleys of Muara Angke port in Jakarta.
Sculpture of Garuda Pancasila (Indonesian National emblem) in front of one of the living neighbourhoods in Central Java.
Hartadi breeds zebra doves on his house roof. They are for long have been considered sacred by the Javanese people.
Hartadi holds an egg of zebra dove.
Suwardi standing in the doors of his house with his bird is 80 years old. He keeps white doves to keep his company after his wife passed away.
Boy in one of Muara Angke streets plays with cardboard wings imitating bird.
Munip yard is full of birds. While he smokes his pipe he often listens to them as thei remind him his home in Madura.
Edi and his mother Wiwi tend to the bird that reminds him his late father. For mother this bird became last memory of her son and her husband time together.
Acid bough first two pairs of pigeons for her son Abdul but evntually she fell in love with the process of feeding them herself and soon more and more birds joined her home.
Bird communal nesting-boxes built by children in Gang Koba village in Jakarta.
Children in the streets of Muara Angke port often spend their time with their racing pigeons. It's one of the most beloved sports for children.
Abandoned bird carousel in one of beach towns in Central Java.
Birds in their cages kept in the upper part of the shop in the Yogyakarta bird market.
Fishing boats in Muara Angke port decorated with bird signs.
Signs of Garuda Pancasila in front of one of the living neighbourhoods gates in Muara Angke.
Ustadz showing his hat decorated with a feather of bird.
Ribut is holding cage with his canary.
Pigeon landing site in the field of Gang Koba village in Jakarta.
Boy in fishermen village is wearing flip flops with bird wings. Eventhough they are from popular culture still it becomes symbolical.
Man is taking his birds in special bicycle cage to Yogyakarta bird market.