Music group Efek Rumah Kaca (ERK) released the video clip Rimpang on Thursday (31/10) on their YouTube channel. The video clip Rimpang was directed by Dian Tamara, and stars Elang El Gibran with Laras Sardi.
In the Rimpang music video, Dian Tamara uses a stop motion concept which shows roots spreading and wrapped around Elang El Gibran’s body. In the video, Laras Sardi and Elang El Gibran are shown, who were originally shown to have a close relationship, when suddenly Elang stabs Laras in the back. After Laras fell and died, he transformed into creeping roots that wrapped around Elang’s body.
“The Rhizome music video actually responds to the music. Why do I show the roots that grow in the visuals, because in my opinion, various forms of heartache or wounds, up to betrayals that cause wounds and pain, must be swallowed and felt. If you visualize it, if you want to spit out the pain, it’s like what it is, it’s like a tree. I feel like, we continue to grow. “That is what ultimately becomes the fertilizer for us to be able to continue to rise, do the things we want to aim for, and in any form of heartbreak to people, the government, or to other countries,” said the director of the video clip Rimpang Dian Tamara during a press conference at Semesta’s Gallery, Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, Thursday (31/10).
Efek Rumah Kaca vocalist Cholil Mahmud explained that the song material had actually been around since mid-2013, when ERK was working on their third full studio album Sinestesia. However, when they started to complete the song, Cholil also saw the phenomenon that accompanied it. When civic space becomes increasingly narrow, voicing opinions is threatened by buzzers, and critical murals are removed.
“There are many ways in which people struggle but still fight. For example, netizens like to get around by praising people, such as the comment ‘bismillah be a commissioner.’ That’s resistance too. This resistance did not arise only from activists. But from anywhere. Although it doesn’t necessarily work. “However, there is always an alternative resistance so that it is not repressed,” said Cholil.
Rhizome Song, Cholil likens it to a rhizome plant that grows underground. Cholil was inspired by the rhizome theory proposed by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari in the book Thousand Plateaus, which says that science is not hierarchical in nature from top to bottom. However, it can also spread like the roots of rhizome plants.
“In the 2021–2024 era, many ideas critical of the government will emerge from comics. That’s a new thing that, oh this is really like, even though we are repressed, hope comes from everywhere. We need to take care of that. That’s what inspired the lyrics of Rimpang. Until now, we are still not in a good situation either. However, resistance needs to be maintained. “A form of defiance but in a subtle form, that’s what we want to record in the song and become the core of the Rimpang album,” continued Cholil. (M-3)
#Rhizome #Video #Clip #Released #ERK #Voices #Caring #Hope #Resistance
**Interview with Dian Tamara, Director of Efek Rumah Kaca’s Rimpang Music Video**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dian. The music video for “Rimpang” has just been released. Can you tell us what inspired you to choose a stop-motion concept for this video?
**Dian Tamara:** Thank you for having me! The stop-motion technique allowed me to visually represent the idea of roots spreading and intertwining, which aligns perfectly with the song’s themes of heartache and betrayal. It emphasizes how emotional wounds can take root in our lives and affect our growth.
**Interviewer:** The visuals are quite striking. In the video, we see Elang El Gibran’s character undergo a profound transformation after the betrayal of Laras Sardi’s character. What message were you aiming to convey through this?
**Dian Tamara:** The transformation in the video symbolizes how emotional pain can change us. After Laras is betrayed, she turns into creeping roots, showing that while betrayal can hurt, it also contributes to our growth in unexpected ways. It reflects how we can turn our suffering into something that allows us to rise again.
**Interviewer:** Cholil Mahmud from Efek Rumah Kaca mentioned that this song has been in the works since 2013. How do you think the passage of time has shaped the final interpretation presented in the video?
**Dian Tamara:** The evolution of the song over the years definitely added layers to its meaning. The experiences and personal growth we’ve all gone through since its conception imbue the visuals with a deeper resonance. It speaks to universal themes of heartache that many can relate to, regardless of when the song was written.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a deeply personal project. What do you hope viewers will take away from watching “Rimpang”?
**Dian Tamara:** I hope viewers will reflect on their own experiences with heartache and betrayal, and recognize that these pains are part of personal growth. Like the roots in the video, we can take our struggles and turn them into something beautiful and life affirming.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dian, for sharing your insights with us. We look forward to seeing how your creative vision resonates with audiences.
**Dian Tamara:** Thank you! I’m excited for everyone to experience the video and the deeper meanings behind it.
