Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis turns 30

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.