Art summit offers respite from crisis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Forget the crisis. Forget the weakening rupiah
\nand the soaring prices of rice and other basic commodities.
\nThe time is approaching to indulge yourself with prime performing
\narts.<\/p>\n
Sixteen quality local and international groups are in town to
\nperform at the second art summit with the theme: Enlightment in
\nthe Crisis.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty
\nEradication Haryono Suyono is scheduled to open the month-long
\nevent at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta on
\nSept. 19.<\/p>\n
Hailed as the most prestigious art festival here, it will
\npresent dances, dramas and music concerts from nine countries:
\nEgypt, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, the
\nNetherlands and the United States. Participants will perform at
\nTaman Ismail Marzuki's Graha Bhakti Budaya and at Gedung Kesenian
\nJakarta (Jakarta Playhouse).<\/p>\n
Noted choreographer Gusmiati Suid, founder of the Gumarang
\nSakti Dance Company, will kick off the festival with the group's
\nlatest work, Api Dalam Sekam (Fire in the Chaff), at Gedung
\nKesenian Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The group is famous for its contemporary choreography with
\nnotable influence from the Minangkabau, or West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Alvin Lucier, a pioneer of contemporary music in the United
\nStates, will perform with 12 highly reputable musicians,
\nincluding local gamelan experts, on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. They
\nwill also perform at the playhouse.<\/p>\n
While performing at the arts center, Rendra and his Bengkel
\nTheater are scheduled to stage his 1975s work, Suku Naga (Dragon
\nTribe), on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23.<\/p>\n
Yukio Waguri of Japan's experimental dance company Butoh will
\nperform on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 at Taman Ismail Marzuki.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 25 and Sept. 26, composer Toni Prabowo will play his
\ncompositions Autumnal Steps and Pembakaran Sinta (Sinta's
\nBurning) at the playhouse.<\/p>\n
A contemporary theater group, El-Warsha of Egypt, will perform
\nSpinning Lives, an epic with eastern and western Arabs on stage,
\nat the arts center on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
German dance group Bremer Tanztheater will feature their
\nlatest works, Also Egmont Bitte and Frauenballett\/Heisse Luft, at
\nthe playhouse on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.<\/p>\n
French composers Musicatreize will entertain audiences with
\ntheir \"humoristique\" compositions at the arts center on Oct. 2
\nand Oct. 3.<\/p>\n
A modern-classic music concert by Dutch artists Theo Loevendie
\nand Insomnio group on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 will be staged at the
\nplayhouse.<\/p>\n
This will be followed by local choreographer Miroto's
\npresentation of a riot-inspired dance performance, Kembang Sampah
\n(Garbage Flower) on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 at the playhouse.<\/p>\n
Jin Hi Kim and three other composers from the United States
\nwill demonstrate their skills at the arts center on Oct. 7 and
\nOct. 8.<\/p>\n
Gamelan-dominated compositions Wulan and Bamban created by
\nSuka Hardjana will be staged on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 at the
\nplayhouse, while playwright Putu Wijaya and his Theater Mandiri
\nwill perform Ngeh (Understand), a compilation of his worst
\nexperiences during the May 14 riots, at the arts center on Oct.
\n11 and Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
Spanish dancers will also take part in the summit by
\nperforming dances at the playhouse on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14.<\/p>\n
Japanese composer Tsuchitori Toshiyuki and the Spiral Arms
\nwill play their compositions on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 at the arts
\ncenter.<\/p>\n
The last performance will feature Finish female composer Kaija
\nSaariaho and her Petal Ensemble, on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 at the
\nplayhouse.<\/p>\n
A dialog: The Problem of Multiculturalism and Exploration of
\nLocal Sources, will also be held at Alia Hotel in Central Jakarta
\non Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. Speakers include Alvin Lucier, who is a
\nlecturer at Connecticut's Wesleyan University, Dieter Mack of
\nGermany, Sal Murgianto of Indonesia, Chua Soo Pong of Singapore
\nand Takahashi Yuji of Japan.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Education's and Culture Director General of
\nCulture Edi Sedyawati said the second art summit was expected to
\nbe better than the first one held in 1995.<\/p>\n
\"In terms of quality, the first art summit was warmly
\ngreeted... many people complimented the performances. So at
\nleast, we hope the second art summit will be of the same quality
\nas the first one,\" Edi told journalists on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The event is held every three years to allow organizers enough
\ntime to make preparations, including the selecting of prospective
\nperformers, she said.<\/p>\n
\"If we're going to hold a third art summit, we should start
\nmaking preparations right after the second art summit,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
Tickets are available at the venues at prices ranging from Rp
\n25,000 to Rp 10,000. Students get a 50 percent discount from the
\nlowest rate. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/art-summit-offers-respite-from-crisis-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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