JakArt@2003 hits shopping malls across the city<\/p>\n
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ask anyone here what she or he would prefer to do: a) go to a
\nshopping mall or b) watch a dance performance. It is likely that
\nthe answer would be a).<\/p>\n
Shopping malls have become the place to hang out, not just for
\nchildren and teenagers, but also adults, who might never step
\ninto a playhouse like Gedung Kesenian Jakarta or the Taman Ismail
\nMarzuki arts center (TIM).<\/p>\n
\"Art is not a substantial part of our educational system, it
\nis treated as an extracurricular activity, making its presence
\nintangible in our life,\" Ary Sutedja, secretary-general of
\nJakArt@2003, the city's annual arts festival, said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, she said that this year Jakart@2003 also enhanced
\nits program by bringing art to the shopping malls, in an effort
\nto build its audience.<\/p>\n
Among the shopping malls that host the Jakart@2003 are Senayan
\nSquare at the Plaza Senayan in South Jakarta, Plaza Indonesia and
\nAtrium Senen in Central Jakarta, Kelapa Gading Mall in East
\nJakarta, Lippo Karawaci Mall in Tangerang and Citraland in West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"By nature, if we have to go to the malls to promote art, we
\nwill go there or any other place for that matter,\" Ary continued.<\/p>\n
\"It is also a fact that there are more shopping malls in the
\ncity than theaters or art galleries,\" said Ary.<\/p>\n
JakArt has been held since 2001 with the goal of providing
\nartists with venues, as places that are willing to accommodate
\nartists' self-expression are scarce and the public's interest in
\nthe arts low.<\/p>\n
Ary expressed concern that people's awareness of art was
\ndiminishing, overwhelmed by the need to prioritize economic
\nprosperity as if traumatized by the country's economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The presence of shopping malls has apparently become more
\nsignificant than the presence of well-equipped theaters in the
\ncity, where performing artists can express themselves through
\nart, she said.<\/p>\n
\"People leave museums and art galleries as no investment has
\nbeen made in strategic efforts to get people to like, understand
\nand appreciate art,\" she said.<\/p>\n
During JakArt@2003, some 900 performances and events -- local
\nand international -- will be presented in some 150 venues and
\nlocations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, responses varied on the efforts of the JakArt
\norganizing committee to promote art. For example, Dicky, 20, a
\nstudent from Trisakti University said that he would not go to see
\nany theatrical performances even if they were presented at
\nshopping malls, where he liked to hang out.<\/p>\n
\"No, I am not interested in watching art performances, even if
\nthey are presented here at PS (Plaza Senayan). The fact is that
\nmost of the time I do not understand artistic shows or
\nperformances. For me, art is simply rock bands and action
\nmovies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But Neneng, 31, a manager at a private bank, said that she
\nwelcomed the introduction of cultural performances at shopping
\nmalls as it combined two things that she loved.<\/p>\n
\"I love it and I have always attended performances or shows at
\nshopping malls since the first JakArt, although I do not see that
\nwhat the committee is doing is significant for the development of
\nthe arts. I see the same audience at malls, theaters or
\ngalleries,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Mikhail David, vice chairman of JakArt@2003, said that to
\nachieve a positive response from the public to his organization's
\ninitiative to promote art including bringing it to shopping malls
\nwas more complex than it appeared.<\/p>\n
\"People must be introduced to creative thinking to be able to
\nappreciate art while our educational system does not adequately
\nsupport creative thinking.<\/p>\n
\"That is what we are trying to do here. We would like to
\nexpose art to a new audience as the current exposure is lacking
\nin this city,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Schedule of JakArt2003 at shopping malls:
\n------------------------------------------
\nDate Venue Event<\/p>\n
(to come)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakart2003-hits-shopping-malls-across-the-city-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }