Catch rare art treats while you can at Summit
By Stevie Emilia and Yudha Kartohadiprodjo
JAKARTA (JP): Art lovers only have a week left to enjoy top- quality performances as the Second Art Summit Indonesia nears its final curtain.
Planned to be held once every three years, the event presents a rare opportunity to enjoy the work of highly respected artists. Tickets are relatively affordable, and it was no wonder last week's performances were packed with viewers.
"In other countries, you have to pay more for such musical performances," Ananto told The Jakarta Post after watching a concert by Insomnio Group last Sunday.
A consultant with a multinational company, Ananto has watched numerous musical concerts while on business trips abroad. "Once, in London, I had to pay around US$50 to watch a classical concert, and the price was not for the best seat."
At the art summit, a first-class ticket costs just Rp 25,000 (less than $3). Second and third class tickets are available for Rp 15,000 and Rp 10,000. Students receive a 50 percent discount on third-class tickets.
The Insomnio Group -- with members from the Netherlands, Germany and Spain -- performed five pieces by famous Dutch composer Theo Loevendie and two other works by his former students at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4.
On Tuesday evening, Miroto presented his latest choreography Kembang Sampah (The Garbage Flower). Known as one of the best choreographers in the country, Miroto has also traveled the world to study with the world's best dance figures.
The distinguished crew of Kembang Sampah included famous musician Djaduk Ferianto and noted designer Samuel Wattimena.
In the dance, Miroto confronts the issues of rape and other forms of sexual harassment.
In the first part of the performance, Miroto shows that people can become "rubbish" due to their actions. He later explores how humans can treat others like junk.
"The dance is actually really interesting since it raises a theme that is contemporary. The first part of the dance was more successful than the later one. It seems the later part of the dance was done in a hurry," said well-known dance critic Sal Murgiyanto.
No World Improvisations featuring four internationally renowned musicians grabbed art lovers' attention during performances Taman Ismail Marzuki art center in Central Jakarta on Wednesday and Thursday.
The group bestowed a new musical experience on the audience by playing a variety of instruments unfamiliar to most.
There were double-reed folk instruments from India dating as far back as 3,000 years, the world's only electric komungo developed by noted Korean musician and composer Jin Hi Kim, the Chinese pipa and African drums.
A member of the summit's artistic board who recommended the group, Slamet A. Sjukur, praised the performances.
"Even those who have no background in music could enjoy their music," he told the Post.
On Friday, noted composer Suka Hardjana performed two of his compositions, Wulan and Bamban, at the Jakarta Playhouse on Friday and Saturday.
Wulan was inspired by Garin Nugroho's script of his movie Bulan Tertusuk Ilalang (And the Moon Dances) while Bamban meant returning to the starting point. In both compositions, Suka demonstrated his skills in playing different notes on gamelan instruments.
Playwright Putu Wijaya and his Theater Mandiri is scheduled to perform Ngeh (Understand) on Sunday and Monday at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art center. The play was inspired by the playwright's personal experiences during the recent May riots.