Yogyakarta, June 4th 2026 – The Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) Program, Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully held a dance-drama performance titled “Taru Atutur”. This event was organized to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of PSPSR UGM on Friday, May 29th 2026, at the 1st Floor of the Grha Sabha Pramana Building, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta.
Etymologically, the word “Taru” means a tree or plant, symbolizing life, growth, and strong roots, while “Atutur” is derived from Old Javanese vocabulary meaning to speak, to narrate, or to tell a story. The combination of these two words gives “Taru Atutur” the meaning of “The Storytelling Tree,” a metaphor for the journey of PSPSR UGM, which continues to grow, is firmly rooted in knowledge, and perpetually narrates the stories of art and culture. The Kalpataru tree was chosen as the main logo and symbol, representing the diversity of artistic discourse that grows alongside PSPSR UGM. Through this tree symbol, the performance asserts that art and knowledge are living, evolving entities that always provide space for various branches of thought and expression.
“Taru Atutur,” as a dance-drama performance, elegantly integrates various elements of Nusantara arts, which include dance, music, theater, and visual arts. This performance presented a harmonious blend of ethnic musical instruments, traditional dance movements, theatrical acts, stage lighting, and modern video mapping technology. The play depicted the cosmological journey of humans, nature, and knowledge with symbolic figures such as Bathara Guru, Sang Hyang Indra, as well as a diverse array of creatures from the Nusantara fauna. The presence of these characters not only enriched the dramatic aspect of the performance but also shared the values of local wisdom reflecting the close relationship of humans, nature, spirituality, and culture.
The 35th Anniversary celebration marked an important milestone in the long journey of PSPSR UGM, which has made significant contributions to the development of arts and cultural studies in Indonesia. This performance served as a manifestation of creative expression and intellectual reflection involving all elements of the study program, ranging from master and doctoral students, lecturers, and alumni. In addition to accommodating creativity, this activity is a concrete step by the UGM Graduate School in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is fully realized through the provision of quality education (SDG 4), the creation of cross-disciplinary performance innovations (SDG 9), nature conservation campaigns (SDG 13), as well as the establishment of synergy and partnerships with art workers (SDG 17).
Author: Berlian Belasuni