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 high-quality matte paper with 10-color digital inkjet technology. Can be matted and/or framed.
Available in the following dimension:
• 60 x 40 cm | 24 x 16”
❏ Aluminum Print
Printed on a sleek 3-mm, triple-layered aluminum composite material for a matte, reflection-free result using state-of-the-art printing method. Water-resistant, durable UV read-to-hang print suitable for sheltered, outdoor areas.
Available in the following dimension:
• 60 x 40 cm | 24 x 16”
Collector's Limited Edition of 15 copies worldwide.
Processed in Europe on one of the glossiest and most expensive photographic papers in the world—Fujiflex Crystal Archive.
The Fujiflex Crystal Archive paper is a special chromogenic paper with an ultra-high-gloss surface producing the highest professional photographic substrate currently available in the world. The quality of this paper is incomparable with any other papers on the market today.
This silver halide, true photographic printing material on a polyester base is produced to the highest gallery and competition standards. It is printed through a specialized process using laser exposure technology.
Your photograph is not printed like other papers with ink. It is instead exposed into the silver halide base with lasers and is then chemically processed.
The final result has to be seen to be believed as it leaves mica crystals on the paper that, when properly lit, produce a strikingly three-dimensional luxurious look and an appearance of being lit from behind.
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”
Such paper must be mounted on appropriate substrate and/or framed correctly to guarantee the best results.
Replica Edition
• Free shipping worldwide;
• Please allow up to 48 hours before your order is dispatched;
• Delivery time is about two to three working weeks depending on your country;
• Shipped in a sturdy mailing tube for the fine art prints and a protective cardboard box for the aluminum print;
• Fine art prints are sent by the post office from Indonesia while aluminum prints are processed and sent from Europe;
• A confirmation email is sent when the photo is shipped;
• Any custom and duty fees are the responsibility of the customer;
• Replica Edition prints come without white borders;
• Frame not included for the fine art prints
★ Original Edition
• Free shipping worldwide;
• Please allow up to 7 days before your order is dispatched;
• Delivery time is about two working weeks;
• Tracking available;
• Shipped in secure packaging handled by art professionals;
• Sent by UPS, FedEx, or DHL from Europe;
• A confirmation email is sent when the photo is shipped along with a digital Certificate of Authenticity and a handling and framing manual;
• Any custom and duty fees are the responsibility of the customer;
• Original Edition photographs come without white borders;
• Frame not included