Mother Earth

Arahmaiani (b. 1961, Bandung, Indonesia) lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Mother Earth is a 21-foot-tall sculpture of a standing female figure holding a globe in her hands, and dressed in traditional attire inspired by Nusantara—a term used to describe the deep history and diverse blend of cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds spanning across maritime Southeast Asia. Twelve flags created with communities in Indonesia, across Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States surround the figure, each featuring words in multiple languages. Activated through performance, the work presents environmental care as a shared, collective responsibility.