Jompet is one of Indonesian young artists whose productivity and innovations in terms of the use of recycled electronic equipments for video, object, and installation works still remain unchallenged among his peer. His ongoing project Java’s Machine (2008 – present) could perhaps prove such judgment. Realized in the form of installation series, Java’s Machine intelligently questions the myriad of definitions regarding social and cultural concepts amidst the rapid change that has taken place in Asia since the modernization.

Jompet has long been interested to explore aspects of the society in Java: an island in the Indonesian vast archipelago, which served as one of the axes in the old silk road trade route. The uniqueness of the island lies in the collage of cultures that reflects the early history of syncretism in Asia. Within Indonesian context, the syncretism cannot be separated from all the trading process and encounter with different native cultures, such as Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity that came after the end of the silk route in the 14th century.
The Dutch colonialism, which took place for 350 years in Indonesia, was also a consequence of all the changes after the all trades process in the past.Jompet’s interests in themes that tend to be “no longer popular” among artists of his generation are always successfully channeled in unique ways, thanks to his artistic ability in processing the media of video, sounds, and kinetic objects.
The idea of syncretism in Jompet’s works involves the cultural transformation in the society through the technology or ‘machine’.