Catch rare art treats while you can at Summit
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.