'Art venues not easy to reach'

The ongoing Seventh Gedung Kesenian Jakarta International Festival 2004 and the upcoming Arts Summit next month are just some of the many arts performances taking place in Jakarta. However, while there are plenty of events on offer, the capital has few venues that are suitable to host them. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about where they go to enjoy arts performances.

Jully Isran, 53, is an entrepreneur working in an aircraft spare parts business. She lives with her family in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta:

I never go to art events. I don't like stage performances like wayang (shadow puppet shows) or the like. I used to love going to the movies, but now there are new television stations and the films on them are quite good.

I listen to music, but don't necessarily go out and look for it live.

Since I gave birth to my son, I've never had time for that kind of thing. I'm always too busy with work and with my family.

I don't even watch TV much. I don't like many of the shows that they have on. I watched Indonesian Idol, for example, and I didn't like it.

Henry Napitupulu, 30, is an architect whose office is in Cikini, Central Jakarta. He lives with his brothers in Tanah Kusir, South Jakarta:

I don't often go to see art performances. When I do, they would be at the Erasmus Huis (in Kuningan, South Jakarta). Sometimes I see some shows and events when I go to malls.

At times, I go to art galleries to see paintings. I like contemporary art, not old paintings. I also go to the launching of architectural pieces, which in my opinion, are also a kind of art.

I think it's important to go to art performances. However, since information about such events is difficult to find and the venues are hard to reach, I often don't feel like going to them.

I know such shows can be found at the Ismail Marzuki Arts Center or the Jakarta Playhouse, but I've never been there.

-- The Jakarta Post