Art summit bridging boundaries

Art summit bridging boundaries

Stevie Emilia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It may be strapped for cash, but the Jakarta Art Summit and its
roster of local and international artists will allow exploration
into the meaning of contemporary performances, with a particular
focus on visual arts during the monthlong event.

Organized every three years in the hope to forge intercultural
understanding among nations in the spirit of world peace, the 4th
Art Summit Indonesia 2004 International Festival on Contemporary
Performing & Visual Arts is scheduled to run at three different
venues from Sept. 11 to Oct. 10.

Fifteen internationally renowned groups will offer dance,
music and theater performances, while the works of visual artists
-- paintings, sculptures, photographs and installation pieces --
promise to soothe the soul while pleasing the eyes.

"Criteria for (participation in) this year's festival is the
latest and the best," explained Putu Wijaya, the chairman of the
festival's artistic board.

"But again, in selecting the participants, we often find a
problem with their tight and full schedules and our inability to
provide facilities."

This year's festival boasts the biggest number of
participating countries ever, with artists from 14 countries. As
well as the host nation, they are from Australia, Britain, Egypt,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, South
Korea, Russia, Thailand and the United States.

The first festival in 1995 presented 15 groups from 10
countries, while the second festival in 1998 had 17 groups from
nine countries, and 17 groups from 10 countries in the third
festival in 2003.

The performances of the seven dance groups, six theater
troupes and three music groups will draw art lovers to Graha
Bhakti Budaya at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center and Gedung
Kesenian Jakarta, both in Central Jakarta.

The festival also marks the inclusion of visual arts for the
first time this year. The first festival in 1995 only focused on
music and dance, while the second and third festivals in 1998 and
2001 added theater performances.

Some 25 noted artists, both local and international figures,
will display their works during this year's festival at Galeri
Nasional Indonesia in Central Jakarta.

They include Agus Suwage, Anuspati, Arahmaiani, Heri Dono,
Mella Jaarsma, Nindityo Adipurnomo, Krisna Murti, Oscar Matulloh,
Tisna Sanjaya, Nyoman Erawan, Made Wianta, Dolorosa Sinaga, S.
Teddy D. from Indonesia; Eliza Hutchinson and Darren Siwes of
Australia; Rashid Rana of Pakistan; Masuda Hiromi and Majima
Naoko of Japan; Sutee Kunavichayanont of Thailand; Bruno Samper
and Pierre Giner of France.

"In the first festival, there was only dance and music, and
the next (two) festivals added theater. Now (we'll) have visual
arts. Maybe in the next development, film will be included. This
is just a development, because the art summit does cover the
entire arts field," Putu said.

An international seminar on performing and visual arts will
also be held from Sept. 12 to Sept. 14 at Treva Hotel in Central
Jakarta. The seminar will highlight various issues, from dance,
music, theater and visual arts, with both local and foreign
artists and experts listed as speakers.

Scheduled performances are mostly ones that have been done
before, such as I Wayan Sadra's compositions Otot Kawat Balung
Besi (Wire Muscle Iron Bone), Beringin Kurung (Caged Banyan Tree)
or Daily, and Dindon & Teater Kubur's 14-year-old play Sirkus
Anjing (Dog Circus).

And most of the foreign artists are stopping here as part of a
world tour.

A major disappointment is that the avant-garde theatrical
production I La Galigo will not be staged. The show premiered in
Singapore in March this year before touring many world cities,
but has yet to be shown in its country of origin.

"We're told that we can't afford to stage the production
because it's way too expensive, more than our budget for the
entire event," explained Dyah, the festival's public relations
officer.

The festival reportedly received Rp 2 billion from the
government, Rp 1 billion less than in 2001.

But praise should be given to the organizing committee for
providing more space for phenomenal multimedia art at this year's
festival, such as the scheduled performance by Magali & Didier
Mulleras Dance Company of France that will blend dance, images
and multimedia in their show.

Explorations into contemporary performances will also be
evident in the scheduled performance of Robert Hylton-Urban
Classicism that promises to deliver a fascinating eclectic mix of
jazz dance, hip-hop, high-kicking capoeira as well as
contemporary and classical dance.

The theme of women's issues will be highlighted by
choreographers Elly Luthan in her piece on the plight of Acehnese
women, and Hartati, who is scheduled to stage The Self Rites: Ode
for Woman, reflecting on women's bargaining power in the uneasy
ground between traditionalism and modernism.

So take your pick from everything on offer, and treat yourself
to a culture fix.