Azkya and Zila
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ᝰ THE STORY
High in the misty highlands of Dieng, where volcanic soil nourishes the land and traditions run deeper than time itself, two young sisters stood side by side—Azkya, five, and Zila, six. Their presence was magnetic, their gaze curious yet unshaken, but it was something else that made them extraordinary.
Azkya and Zila’s hair, woven into natural dreadlocks, hinted at a secret passed down through generations. Unlike the Rastafarian locks of Jamaica, these were not a choice, nor a fashion—they were a gift from the ancestors, bestowed upon only a few children of the Dieng Plateau. Their mother, standing close, revealed the story written into their roots.
“Not all children in this village are chosen,” she explained, watching over them with quiet reverence. “But those who are, like my daughters, are believed to receive their hair as a sacred sign from the spirits.”
It never starts this way. At birth, their hair was like any other child's—soft, ordinary, untouched by fate. But when they reached the age of two, an unexplained fever took hold, lingering for weeks. No medicine could ease it, no remedy could break it. Then, as suddenly as it arrived, the fever passed—leaving behind strands of hair that twisted and matted on their own, forming the unmistakable locks of a gimbal child.
To carry such hair is an honor, but also a responsibility. The journey of a gimbal child does not end with their locks—it culminates in the ancient Ruwatan Gimbal ceremony, where the dreadlocks must be cut in an elaborate ritual. But there is a rule, one that cannot be broken: before the ceremony, the child must make a request, and whatever is asked must be granted.
"Anything?" one might wonder. Yes—anything. A mountain of golden necklaces, a sack of rice, even a pony. The request is sacred, and if left unfulfilled, the ritual cannot proceed. Worse still, the child may remain tethered to unseen forces, vulnerable to illness, misfortune, or worse.
The weight of this belief is heavy on parents, many of whom struggle to provide even life’s simplest needs. Yet, faith is stronger than hardship. For those who walk this path, the sacrifice is not a burden, but a test—one that must be passed if the ceremony is to be completed.
When the time comes, the severed locks are not simply discarded. They are taken to a sacred lake, cradled by the waters, and offered back to the ancestors—so that the child may walk freely into the future, safe and prosperous.
Azkya and Zila stood as quiet proof that reality is more than what can be seen or explained. Their story was not one of logic, but of mystery—a reminder that life is not a problem to be solved, but a journey to be trusted. Some things unfold in ways beyond understanding, shaped not by plans, but by forces unseen.
And perhaps, in the heart of Dieng, under the mist and golden light, destiny still weaves its own silent threads.
📍Dieng, Jawa Tengah 🗓 2018
❏ Fine Art Print
Printed on 210 gsm premium matte fine art paper using 10-color archival pigment inkjet technology for exceptional detail, tonal depth and longevity. Suitable for matting and framing.
Available in the following dimension:
• 45 x 30 cm | 18 x 12”
• 60 x 40 cm | 24 x 16”
❏ Aluminum Print
Printed directly onto a 3 mm aluminum composite panel using state-of-the-art UV printing technology. The matte, reflection-free finish offers exceptional durability, water resistance and is ready to hang. Suitable for sheltered outdoor display.
Available in the following dimension:
• 60 x 40 cm | 24 x 16”
Collector's Limited Edition of 15 copies worldwide.
Limited to 15 editions worldwide, each photograph is processed in Germany on Fujiflex Crystal Archive Paper, one of the world's finest professional photographic papers.
Unlike inkjet printing, each image is laser-exposed onto silver halide photographic paper and chemically developed using a traditional chromogenic process. The ultra-high-gloss polyester surface delivers extraordinary sharpness, exceptional tonal depth and a remarkable three-dimensional appearance. Under proper lighting, microscopic crystals within the emulsion create an exceptional sense of depth, giving the photograph an almost backlit presence that is unlike conventional photographic prints.
Each artwork is individually numbered and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, signed, dated and embossed by the artist. The certificate also records the provenance of every edition, documenting where each of the fifteen prints has found its permanent home.
The artist proposes 15 copies, each available in the following sizes:
• 90 x 60 cm | 36 x 24”
• 150 x 100 cm | 60 x 40”
To fully reveal the depth, brilliance and visual impact of Fujiflex Crystal Archive, each print should be professionally mounted and glazed using museum-grade materials.
Open Edition
• Complimentary worldwide shipping.
• Orders are dispatched within 48 hours.
• Estimated delivery: ±1 week, depending on the destination.
• Fine Art Prints are carefully inspected, rolled and shipped in a sturdy protective tube.
• Aluminum Prints are securely packaged in a reinforced cardboard box.
• Fine Art Prints are produced and shipped from Indonesia. Aluminum Prints are processed and shipped from Germany.
• A shipping confirmation is sent by email or text message.
• Import duties, taxes and customs fees are the responsibility of the recipient.
• Fine Art Prints include white borders for optimal presentation and framing.
• Frame not included.
★ Collector's Edition
• Complimentary worldwide shipping.
• Each artwork is prepared to order and dispatched within 7 days.
• Estimated delivery: ±1 week, depending on the destination.
• Fully insured shipping with tracking via UPS, FedEx or DHL.
• Professionally packed by fine art specialists for maximum protection.
• Processed and shipped from Germany.
• Each artwork is accompanied by its Certificate of Authenticity, individually numbered, signed, dated and embossed by the artist, together with handling and framing recommendations.
• Import duties, taxes and customs fees are the responsibility of the recipient.
• Collector's Limited Editions include white borders for optimal presentation and professional framing.
• Frame not included.