JakArt@2003 hits shopping malls across the city

JakArt@2003 hits shopping malls across the city

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ask anyone here what she or he would prefer to do: a) go to a
shopping mall or b) watch a dance performance. It is likely that
the answer would be a).

Shopping malls have become the place to hang out, not just for
children and teenagers, but also adults, who might never step
into a playhouse like Gedung Kesenian Jakarta or the Taman Ismail
Marzuki arts center (TIM).

"Art is not a substantial part of our educational system, it
is treated as an extracurricular activity, making its presence
intangible in our life," Ary Sutedja, secretary-general of
JakArt@2003, the city's annual arts festival, said.

Therefore, she said that this year Jakart@2003 also enhanced
its program by bringing art to the shopping malls, in an effort
to build its audience.

Among the shopping malls that host the Jakart@2003 are Senayan
Square at the Plaza Senayan in South Jakarta, Plaza Indonesia and
Atrium Senen in Central Jakarta, Kelapa Gading Mall in East
Jakarta, Lippo Karawaci Mall in Tangerang and Citraland in West
Jakarta.

"By nature, if we have to go to the malls to promote art, we
will go there or any other place for that matter," Ary continued.

"It is also a fact that there are more shopping malls in the
city than theaters or art galleries," said Ary.

JakArt has been held since 2001 with the goal of providing
artists with venues, as places that are willing to accommodate
artists' self-expression are scarce and the public's interest in
the arts low.

Ary expressed concern that people's awareness of art was
diminishing, overwhelmed by the need to prioritize economic
prosperity as if traumatized by the country's economic crisis.

The presence of shopping malls has apparently become more
significant than the presence of well-equipped theaters in the
city, where performing artists can express themselves through
art, she said.

"People leave museums and art galleries as no investment has
been made in strategic efforts to get people to like, understand
and appreciate art," she said.

During JakArt@2003, some 900 performances and events -- local
and international -- will be presented in some 150 venues and
locations.

Meanwhile, responses varied on the efforts of the JakArt
organizing committee to promote art. For example, Dicky, 20, a
student from Trisakti University said that he would not go to see
any theatrical performances even if they were presented at
shopping malls, where he liked to hang out.

"No, I am not interested in watching art performances, even if
they are presented here at PS (Plaza Senayan). The fact is that
most of the time I do not understand artistic shows or
performances. For me, art is simply rock bands and action
movies," he said.

But Neneng, 31, a manager at a private bank, said that she
welcomed the introduction of cultural performances at shopping
malls as it combined two things that she loved.

"I love it and I have always attended performances or shows at
shopping malls since the first JakArt, although I do not see that
what the committee is doing is significant for the development of
the arts. I see the same audience at malls, theaters or
galleries," she said.

Mikhail David, vice chairman of JakArt@2003, said that to
achieve a positive response from the public to his organization's
initiative to promote art including bringing it to shopping malls
was more complex than it appeared.

"People must be introduced to creative thinking to be able to
appreciate art while our educational system does not adequately
support creative thinking.

"That is what we are trying to do here. We would like to
expose art to a new audience as the current exposure is lacking
in this city," he said.

Schedule of JakArt2003 at shopping malls:
------------------------------------------
Date Venue Event

(to come)