In South Sumatra, Indonesia, a new form of artistic expression is drawing attention to the recurring haze crisis caused by forest fires that continue to impact Southeast Asia. The Palembang-based art collective Jaga Api has created a performance piece titled *Tarian Kehancuran Budaya* (The Dance of Cultural Destruction), which juxtaposes traditional dance with the stark realities of environmental degradation.

The performance features a dancer dressed in Aesan Paksangka, a ceremonial attire from South Sumatra, performing the *tari tanggai*, a traditional welcoming dance. The scene shifts dramatically as she dons a gas mask while standing amongst charred trees, symbolizing the intersection of cultural heritage and environmental destruction. The video was filmed on September 7 and premiered publicly in Palembang in October, quickly gaining widespread attention on Indonesian social media platforms.

Pebri Yansyah, a 33-year-old visual artist and member of Jaga Api, explained that the persistence of yearly fires in South Sumatra raised the question, “Is the haze our culture now?” The group’s artwork, originally inspired by Pebri’s 2024 painting series depicting cultural symbols masked by environmental threats, has resonated beyond the local community. The video has amassed tens of thousands of likes and was shared by prominent Indonesian social media aggregators, amplifying its message nationwide.

The haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan regions continues to impact public health and daily life across Southeast Asia, leading to increased respiratory illnesses, school closures, and flight disruptions. Public reaction has taken various forms, ranging from creative expressions to practical measures such as the distribution of masks and medical aid.

In neighboring countries, social media users have also responded with humor and satire directed at the Indonesian government’s management of the haze crisis. Singaporean content creator Calvin Chua posted a video repeatedly asking who should be fined for the smoke engulfing parts of the island city-state. Similarly, a Malaysian content creator, @isawkwardguy, mocked a claim by Indonesian government spokesman Syahganda Nainggolan that Indonesia had been sending oxygen supplies to Malaysia amid the haze, highlighting cross-border frustrations with sarcastic remarks. Indonesians responded to these posts with a generally lighthearted tone and even engaged in the banter themselves.

The artistic initiative by Jaga Api has inspired other groups within Indonesia. In Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Zwageri Generation—the youth wing of the conservation group YIARI—has created its own environmental dance performance. The group staged the *Marlaap Senggayung*, a ritual dance of the Dayak Pesagauan people traditionally performed to seek blessings from ancestors, on recently burned peatland near the YIARI office. Dieka Pertiwi, education and awareness manager at YIARI, noted the ease of finding burnt locations available for the shoot, reflecting the extensive environmental damage in the area. The dancers wore traditional Dayak attire along with gas masks and rubber boots, symbolizing the ongoing environmental and cultural challenges faced by local communities.

Through their combined efforts in art and activism, these groups seek to inspire awareness and action amid a crisis that has become an unfortunate annual reality in the region. While art alone may not resolve the fires or their consequences, practitioners hope their work will spark dialogue and contribute to broader solutions.