Gevi Noviyanti is a documentary and portrait photographer based in Indonesia with a presence in both Cirebon and Yogyakarta. Her work is recognized for delving into the realms of culture, society, and art, focusing on gender-related issues, especially those affecting women and vulnerable groups.
The photography education experience began at the Kelas Pagi Yogyakarta from 2015-2017. She also participated in several workshops from Arkademy Project, Panna Photo Institute, and mentoring with Christophe Loviny. In 2022 she was part of a photographer who contributed to the media “Project Multatuli”. Last year, she was selected as an artist for the Jakarta International Photo Festival and she was also selected as an Indonesian photographer to partake in a residency program as part of the Year of Culture Qatar-Indonesia: Photography Journey initiative held by Qatar Museum. In 2024, her project “The Siren Sea” was selected for the projection program at Angkor Photo Festival and NIDA Photography Symposium, Lithuania.
Marriage dispensations recorded at the Religious Court of Cirebon, West Java over the past four years averaged 400 applications yearly. The majority of applicants seek marriage dispensations due to pregnancy out of matrimony. Only a portion of the field data is recorded at the Religious Court. In the field, child marriage cases often occur secretly or through unregistered marriages, known as “nikah siri,” which are not recorded under state law.
Nikah Siri is chosen as a solution by parents when they find out their child already has a partner and has engaged in sexual relations. To prevent pregnancy without an official partner, nikah siri is conducted to bind the young couple to take responsibility for their actions. Additionally, nikah siri is also done to avoid the fines imposed by the Religious Court when applying for marriage dispensations.
Besides out-of-matrimony pregnancies, child marriage occurs due to family economic factors. Many people believe that marrying off their daughters will reduce the family’s burden. However, without financial and mental readiness, child marriage leads to structural poverty. Girls do not have the opportunity to pursue higher education and secure better jobs to support their family’s economy.
Through the writing in the letter, I found the reality that the victims of the situation (the subjects) still have a better wish for their daughter. During the process of photography, we (my subject and I) reflect on the important thing about breaking the chains of child marriage to the next generation. We also reflect that to be more open up and build better communication with children. We realize that girls have choices and many opportunities to be a better person and succeed.
Caption
“My dreams are buried far away. I have not yet been able to let go of the regret for past mistakes. Striving to be a good mother is now my greatest effort. I hope that in the future, my daughter will avoid making the same mistakes as I did in the past.”
“I still regret not being able to make my parents happy with the job I dreamed of. But what can I do? I only have an elementary school diploma, and my husband doesn’t allow me to work outside the home. Now I hope my daughters can achieve their dreams and not get married at a young age.”
“It takes work to build a household at a young age. I couldn’t fully enjoy my teenage years. There are great responsibilities ahead of me, becoming a wife and a mother. I hope my daughter can achieve success before she gets married.”
