Arts Agenda

Arts Agenda

Exhibition on Jambi's antique batik and woven songket at the
Japan Foundation, Summitmas I building, third floor, Jl.Jend.
Sudirman, Central Jakarta, through Nov. 15.

Jambi province is located between the provinces of Riau and
West Sumatra. Jambi is believed to be an ancient administrative
and trade center in Sumatra.

The province is rich in historical and cultural assets such as
antique ceramics, Buddhist temples, statues, stone inscriptions
and many others.

Jambi is famous for its lavish and intricate textiles
including batik and songket (a double-woven textile with gold
thread embroidery).

To show the richness of Jambi's textiles, Kajalangko Arts
Center in Jambi in cooperation with the Japan Cultural Center is
organizing an exhibition on Jambi's antique batik and songket.

The exhibition will be followed by a discussion and a
traditional music and entertainment show.

Dance Performance Orang-Orang Ketiga (The Third Persons) by
Eksotika Karmawibhangga Indonesia (EKI) production at Gedung
Pertunjukkan Societe on Jl. Sriwedari No.1 in Yogyakarta on
Nov.15 and Nov.16; and at Taman Budaya Surakarta, Jl. Ir Sutami
57, Surakarta on Nov. 19 and Nov.20 at 7.30 p.m.

Orang-Orang Ketiga, choreographed by Rusdy Rukmarata, a
graduate of the London Contemporary Dance School, tells a story
of the unfortunate people. On a large scale--in a state-- the
third persons are the ordinary people, the little men, the
abandoned group. On a smaller scale --in a family -- these third
persons are the "other women" or the "other men" who destroy
families. Servants, laborers, children out of wedlock are also
considered third-class society.

"We are classified. Everything is measured by a label. Any
human being--whoever she or he may be, has a right to live and to
be loved. We have emotion," claimed Rusdy.

In a 45-minute choreography, Rusdy exploits various societal
issues from male-female relationships, abortion, sexual deviants
and many others. "Human relationship is always considered less
important than political activities," Rusdy complained.

The performance is supported by Sujiwo Tejo as music arranger
and actor, Dian HP, Takako Leen and dozens of EKI dancers.

EKI production will also stage the show in Bandung on Nov.10
and Nov.11.

Dance Performance Dongeng Dari Dirah (A Tale from Dirah),
choreographed and performed by Sardono W. Kusumo, at Galeri Cipta
II, Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, Jl. Cikini Raya, Central
Jakarta, from Nov.16 through Nov. 25, at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., free
of charge

Twenty seven years ago, a group of artists performed an
intriguing dance-theater show titled Dongeng Dari Dirah,
choreographed by dancer-painter Sardono W. Kusumo.

It tells the story of Calon Arang, a witch. It is set during
the reign of the king of Kertangara of the Singasari Kingdom in
East Java.

Actors in the l973 show were Sardono, Hajar Satoto (now a
famous actor), Soegeng (then a student of the Jakarta Arts
Institute), painter and writer Danarto and I Wayan Diya.

Now, to mark Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM)'s anniversary, the
dance will be performed again for the public for free. The
performance is part of TIM's November Festival.

Painting Exhibition Gambar Ajal dan Kegirangan Baru (Picture
of Death and a New Delight), by EddiE haRa and Ivan Sagito, at
Galeri Santi, Jl. Benda No.4, Cilandak Timur, Kemang, South
Jakarta, through Nov.23.

EddiE haRa and Ivan Sagito are young painters who have greatly
contributed in the creation a new trend in the Yogyakarta fine
arts world, if not in Indonesia, in the early 80s.

EddiE's styles are naive yet sophisticated. He adopts the
styles of world-class painters such as Jean Dubuffet, Mimmo
Paladino and A.R. Penck. He explores ideas from primitive flowers
and animals, symbols, masks and other objects.

Ivan, on the other hand, is obsessed with surrealism. His
drawings mostly portray a journey to conquer time. Through his
drawings, the artist tries to picture the past, in which a series
of incidents occur.

Dance Theater or Tanztheater: Alle der Kosmonauten
choreographed by Sasha Waltz, at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl.
Gedung Kesenian 1, Central Jakarta,
on Nov. 18 and Nov.19. at 8 p.m.

Jakarta dance lovers will again be able to watch a quality
German dance theater Tanztheater choreographed by Sasha Waltz.

Born in Karlsruhe 37 years ago, Waltz firstly studied dance
from Waltraud Komhaas. She continued her study in Amsterdam at
the School for Dance Development and later moved to New York.

Her work Alle de Kosmonauten has already been performed in
several international dance festivals. (raw)