Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis turns 30

By Mehru Jaffer

JAKARTA (JP): Erasmus Huis is not just a building on Jalan Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, but is also a name that arouses deep passions of personal freedom in many. Erasmus conjures up an image of enlightened knowledge coming from Europe at a time when life there was bogged down in theological dogma, brainless lechery, and hostility towards anything considered heretical by the papal authorities -- which could be anything from hearing voices in your head to the practice of holistic medicine.

Named after Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, the 15th century Dutch humanist -- who pleaded for religious tolerance and reform -- the Huis in Jakarta is seen as a bridge where Dutch and Indonesians can meet and participate freely and openly in a shared experience in the cultural arts. In fact, they have been doing this for three decades, and to celebrate two exhibitions were inaugurated on Sunday evening titled Interaction in Beauty and Conversation in the Field.

The first one is a bewitching selection by contemporary Dutch designer Hans Appenzeller from the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, of late 19th and early 20th century jewelry/ornaments, along with his own experimental designs from 1970 to 2000.

Conversation in the Field displays the contemporary work of more than 10 Indonesian sculptors.

"The exhibitions are a tribute to the creative energies of both Indonesian and Dutch artists," explained P. Anthonie Hamoen, deputy director.

It was due to the oppressiveness that he experienced during his stay in a monastery that bred in Erasmus, the wandering scholar, a life-long love of freedom. He believed that people should be able to live anywhere in the world and to question what they did not understand. The intention is to keep this same spirit alive at the Erasmus Huis where numerous Dutch cultural events have taken place, along with regular performances and exchanges of ideas between local and foreign talents.

Ever since it first opened at Menteng Raya 25 in 1970, the Erasmus Huis has remained a favorite meeting place for Indonesian and Dutch scholars and has provided a home for artists from both countries, many of whom have made their debut there.

From his ground floor office that looks directly out on the exhibition hall, Anthonie said that an entire week of celebrations has been planned up for the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus Huis, including a screening of Comedy about Money considered to be one of the best Dutch feature films from the 1930s, on March 30.

Anthonie was hoping to get Parek as well by Mannus Franke, an anthropological film about forbidden social relationships amongst the Sundanese people, but he could not, due to logistical reasons. The film was made in 1935 with a cast of entirely Indonesian actors and is expected to be screened at a later date along with a festival of all of Franken's fascinating films.

While on the subject of films, Anthonie regretted the loss of Terang Bulan (Full Moon), a musical love story filmed around the same time with its haunting theme song -- which later went on to inspire the tune for the national anthem of neighboring Malaysia.

Sardono W. Kusumo, the Indonesian choreographer and winner of the Prince Claus award will end the week-long cultural festival on April 1 with Biography of a Body that combines classical Javanese dance inspired by Sufism (Islamic mysticism). Pak Raden will tell stories for children based on Indonesian folklore on the morning of March 31, while WS Rendra, one of the most creative contemporary Indonesian poets, will read from a new selection of Indonesian translations of Remco Campert's poems on March 29.

Remco, the 70-year-old Dutch poet has shared the stage with Rendra before when both poets read from each other's works. In the evening on March 31, the irresistible Ireng Maulana will perform with his jazz band specializing in Big Band music.

Organizer of the Jakarta International Festival (JAK JAZZ) and a regular at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, the classical guitarist and composer is expected to bring the Huis down with his music. Ade Simanjuntak, the pianist will accompany the soprano singer Marijke Ten Kte and baritone Henk Poort for a recital on March 27.

All inquiries regarding the festival can be made at telephone number 021 5241069.