Edi Sedyawati reconciles roles in art and govt

By Edith Hartanto

JAKARTA (JP): Don't lump Director General of Cultural Affairs Edi Sedyawati among those gray bureaucrats with scant understanding of their field.

The 60-year-old professor is an accomplished dancer who continues to perform. Her life maxim -- "Dare to create, live your life to the fullest" -- confirms a willingness to test her artistic boundaries.

The designation of 1998 for promotion of the arts thus has particular personal and professional meaning for her. She sat down with The Jakarta Post last week to discuss what she thinks this year holds in store.

Question: Why was this year declared the Year of Art and Culture?

Edi Sedyawati: The Year of Art and Culture is part of the government program launched from 1993 to 2000, with each year having a special theme, in a bid to boost our tourist development and promotion. There is a presidential decree on it. For instance, last year was telecommunications year.

I believe this is a very good chance to promote tourism here. Indonesia has much potential in this area because every region has distinctive art and culture to offer, and I think it will help us cope with the monetary crisis.

Because the theme is meant boost our tourism through art and culture... so the choice is to develop an event such as tour packages. We already have annual programs like the Danau Toba Festival, Bali Festival, Danau Poso Fiesta and the Yogyakarta Festival which will continue this year.

Q: Did the government consult artists before making its decision on naming the year?

E: Actually, no. We admit that we did not hold that kind of forum. We were just overwhelmed when suddenly we realized that this year is the Year of Art and Culture. So we haven't had any discussion with the artists. It's a good idea though... maybe we'll do it soon.

Q: Some say this program is merely commercializing art and culture, to get more tourists, instead of preserving it...

E: Let's look at it this way. Tourism is an industry... so tourist packages, which features special art and culture, are needed.

The problem is can we create a good quality tourist package?

If we want to "sell" something, we have to be sure that it attracts the buyer. The most important thing is to create better quality of tourism... Don't create cheap tourism packages but end up ignoring the quality.

If the tourist industry works well, imagine what it will do for many workers, starting from small vendors to handicraft makers. All of them will become prosperous.

Q: Will the concentration be on traditional arts and culture, as seems to be the emphasis from the government, excluding contemporary art forms?

E: Not at all. We always give special attention to contemporary arts.

In 1995, we held an art summit on contemporary arts from Non- Aligned Movement countries. This year we are planning to hold the second art summit on performing arts in September or October.

So I strongly object to the opinion that contemporary arts are being left out. The facts speak for themselves that the government does pay attention to contemporary arts.

Most contemporary art develops in big cities, and it usually has specific followers from specific social backgrounds.

How many big cities are here? This country has more regions to give attention to, so it is normal if the government gives more attention to the larger areas which still have traditional arts and culture to admire.

Many parts of Indonesia are facing a harsh cultural transformation. For example, this is due to the industrialization process occurring in most villages here. We could not let the traditional arts and culture die out. That's crazy.

We're trying our best to be fair in dealing with this matter of the contemporary and traditional... We care for contemporary arts.

Taman Ismail Marzuki, for instance, has been developed as a place for "freedom of expression" in art and culture.

It's slander if somebody says the government does not give credit to contemporary art.

Look at me, look at Sapardi Djoko Damono or Taufik Abdullah. We work for the government, but basically we are artists, too. I personally think those kind of thoughts are from narrow-minded people. I cannot say who, but I'm aware there are these accusations.

Q: What about bans on some plays or poetry recitals then -- will these be avoided or even done away with this year? This is related to freedom of expression in art and culture, so will people have more opportunities to express themselves this year?

E: Of course, I do not want any bans to occur, and hopefully there won't be situations which might require a banning.

Freedom of expression is badly needed here because people cannot create something if their spirit is dead or their freedom is fettered.

It's everybody right to create. But, basically, a person has to know the limitations. As long as they do not tread on somebody else's rights, things will be all right. Therefore, I agree that the atmosphere of the freedom to create must be maintained. I say people have to dare to create and live their lives to the fullest.

But I am disturbed that there is a wide range of parties who might take advantage of the situation by deliberately creating trouble. It's called njarak in Javanese. This is something that we must be aware of.

Q: What is the best thing you can do in this situation?

E: What I can do is try to build a bridge between officials and artists.

How? By giving both of them a clear explanation about art and culture. I think the officials must try to understand about art, and the artists also have to be aware about this country's situation. Be more sensitive about the economic and political conditions... Try not to spark controversy.

I don't want the artist to encounter unnecessary disputes when they want to hold plays or recitals.

Please don't ask more about this.

Q: Is any special program set up for preserving art and culture?

E: Currently we are working on developing a National Gallery near the National Museum on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta.

It will house an art collection ranging from paintings to sculptures from the art directorate, the National Museum and secretariat of the Directorate General of Culture.

The collection will include up to 1,000 items. I really hope we can complete the project this year. Another project is creating a National Theater, but we have to wait because of the monetary woes.

We are also highlighting some events in arts, archeology, language and history. In the works are plans for the International Association of Historians on Asia Conference in Jakarta.

A system on integrated art and culture information is also available. We provide CD-ROMs on several topics, such as the renovation of Borobudur and Balinese art.

Hopefully, all these programs work not only for this year, but for years to come.

Q: What do you wish for this Year of Art and Culture?

E: I hop the public will give more attention to art and culture.

What occurs now is an imbalance between serious art and entertainment art performance.

People should be able to enjoy serious art which is more fulfilling to both the consciousness and the heart.

How do you deal with this? The only way is to make more serious cultural products to be aired on television and radio. Publish more books on art and culture so people not only enjoy the light entertainment package, but also get the deeper meaning of life.