Biennial Yogyakarta 1997

I read Mr. R. Fadjri's review on Yogyakarta's 1997 art festival (Jan. 14, 1997) with utmost interest.

It is very rare that you write about modern art in Indonesia other than exhibitions in Jakarta. Yogyakarta is too seldom mentioned, even though the city is one of the main hubs of artistic creativity in Indonesia. For a progressive paper such as The Jakarta Post, one would expect more involvement in the development of the regions.

Fadjri's review was all the more rewarding as it described these developments clearly and from a personal perspective.

It is sad, however, that his article was only published on the very last day of the biennial, making it impossible for your readers to form their own opinions. Unfortunately, I did not know about the festival and now it is too late to see it.

On Jan. 25 another exhibition will be opened at Purna Budaya, focussing on the abstract painters Nahum Suwarsita and Sugiarto. I should appreciate your opinion on that exhibition highly.

LUCAS A. OCKEN

Yogyakarta