Exploring Untold Stories from Every Corner of Indonesia

The journey to 11 Indonesian provinces was a remarkable experience for Arifin Al Alamudi, a photojournalist at IDN Times who has been chosen as a photography fellow at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS). His mission was to capture the essence of religious harmony in the country, with his works showcased at a photo exhibition, part of the FOSS 3rd Symposium.

Under the theme "Living Together: A Visual Journey of Indonesia's Religious Harmony," Arifin sought to uncover lesser-known aspects of Indonesia’s diversity and showcase the beauty of its religious coexistence.

“We wanted to capture the forms of diversity that many people are unaware of,” he explained. “So that people can see that even in remote, untouched corners of Indonesia, there exists a form of diversity that mirrors a mini Indonesia.”

One of the most memorable stops on his journey was North Sumatra, where he encountered the Batak tribe practicing the Parmalim faith. He noted that Parmalim existed long before Christianity was introduced to the Batak people. “It turns out they have been around for so long, and they continue to survive and earn respect in North Sumatra,” he shared.

During his visit, he observed that the Parmalim community often incorporated symbols resembling Islamic practices, such as wearing turbans and avoiding foods considered non-halal by Muslims. “This unique aspect made me realize just how diverse Indonesia truly is. I discovered so many things anew,” he said.

The journey, however, was not without challenges. Many cities were skipped because he couldn’t find the right moments to capture. “We visited various cities in a short span of time, and not every place offered the kind of photos we were hoping for,” he admitted.

After three months of exploration, Arifin curated around 100 photographs, with 30 of them selected for exhibition in the Jusuf Kalla Library at UIII. He expressed hope that such exhibitions would become a regular event to help document and celebrate the breadth of Indonesia’s diversity.

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