'Little Fingers', A Musical Stage from Deaf Fantasy Opens the Weekend Performance Series at Galeri Indonesia Kaya

Galeri Indonesia Kaya once again presents a series of art performances as a manifestation of its consistency in supporting the development of Indonesian performing arts. Starting 2026, Galeri Indonesia Kaya presents the performance Jemari Kecil, the first Deaf musical theater in Indonesia, brought to you by the Fantasi Tuli community. This performance serves as a collaborative space between Deaf and hearing artists on one stage, while also opening new perspectives on how art can be experienced and interpreted inclusively.

Little Fingers tells the story of Mentari, a deaf dancer who lost her passion for dancing after the departure of her father, who was a musician. In the process of rediscovering her love for dance, Mentari meets Awan, a music producer who helps her find the meaning of movement, rhythm, and expression again. This story is conveyed over approximately 90 minutes thru a combination of sign language, music, and theater, presenting an emotional experience beyond spoken language.

"Through the performance of Jemari Kecil, Galeri Indonesia Kaya aims to present a stage that is truly open to the diversity of ways of expression." This collaboration between deaf and hearing artists shows that performing arts can be presented inclusively. We believe that art plays an important role as a meeting space, where differences are not boundaries, but rather complementary riches. The presence of the performance "Jemari Kecil" by Fantasi Tuli at Galeri Indonesia Kaya is expected to open new perspectives for the audience, while also expanding the appreciation space for works born from diverse experiences and viewpoints," said Renitasari Adrian, Program Director of Galeri Indonesia Kaya.

Fantasi Tuli is the first deaf musical community in Indonesia that brings together deaf and hearing artists on a collaborative stage. Thru its works, Fantasi Tuli consistently opens new spaces for cross-cultural expression and appreciation of art with the deaf. This community has also made history as the first deaf community in Indonesia to present its own musical solo performance.

Pascal Meliala, the production head and scriptwriter of Jemari Kecil, along with Palka Kojansow, view this performance as a form of collaboration built equally from the beginning of the creative process. The combination of director Hasna Mufidah, who is a deaf artist, and Dhea Seto from the hearing community brings a complementary artistic approach. This collaboration shows that the spirit of inclusivity is not only present on stage thru the performers but also grows strong in the process of creating the work behind the scenes, from story development to the translation of emotions into movement, music, and visuals. This musical is also enriched with a spirit of cross-generational inclusivity, where the performers involved come from a diverse age range, from 12 to 43 years old.

The words 'musical' and 'deaf' should not be in the same sentence. The most difficult part of this production process is not teaching deaf friends to dance or explaining about music. but rather creating a good and entertaining story. Deaf friends have a strong desire to learn and high enthusiasm throughout this production process. That made us realize that the collaboration in Fantasi Tuli shows that with the right access, in the right environment, and with the right people, anything is possible," said Pascal Meliala.

The presence of Jemari Kecil at Galeri Indonesia Kaya marks the opening of a series of Indonesian musicals that are the theme of this month and can be watched for free by lovers of Indonesian performing arts until March. Here is the weekend performance schedule at Galeri Indonesia Kaya:

Date, Day, and Time of Performance	Title of Performance
Saturday, January 31, 2026 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM WIB	Jemari Kecil by Fantasi Tuli Saturday
February 7, 2026 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM WIB	House of Thoughts & Hearts by Jakarta Art House
Saturday, February 14, 2026 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM WIB	Sie Jin Kwie Ceng Tang by Sanggar Wayang Potehi Siauw Pek San
Saturday, February 28, 2026 3:00 PM WIB	Twists and Turns (Backstage Tour) by Pranalika Production
Saturday, March 7, 2026 3:00 PM WIB	Eternal Story by Unlimitale Saturday
Saturday, March 14, 2026 3:00 PM WIB	Musical Performance “Grandfather and the Yellow Boat” by Waktunya Main

This performance is part of a continuous commitment to presenting artworks that not only celebrate cultural diversity but also promote inclusivity and accessibility in performing arts. By presenting performances every week, Galeri Indonesia Kaya continues to open spaces for the community to create, collaborate, and convey stories that are relevant to today's society.