Lontar collects $190,650 for three book projects
Lontar collects $190,650 for three book projects
JAKARTA (JP): All noise subsided when the five musicians
sounded their drums and three pairs of young women and men clad
in traditional Riau garb -- red for the ladies and yellow for the
men -- entered the hall, each hand holding a plate high above
their heads.
The guests, nearly filling the Gedung Pameran Seni Rupa hall
at the Ministry of Education and Culture in Gambir in Central
Jakarta, applauded enthusiastically as the troupe approached the
long table where the guests of honor sat. Then, to the
accompaniment of the drum beat, they grandly placed the plates on
the table.
It was an unusual entrance for a not so unusual dinner -- a
fund-raising occasion. Only this time the organizer, the Lontar
Foundation, went the extra mile to promote its activities.
That night, on March 22, the foundation and the Ministry of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunication held "Malam Seni, Sastra &
Selera" (An Evening of Art, Literature and Cuisine), a fund-
raising dinner which also featured a video presentation and
traditional Riau dancing by the Cik Lay Dance Theater.
"There has never been such a food presentation before,"
commented the impressed Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunication, Joop Ave.
Dinner was prepared by noted food expert William Wongso, who
delighted the guests with his mini tumpeng rice accompanied by
opor ayam, rendang Padang, udang pancet balado, sambal goreng
Cirebon, gulai pisang muda Melayu and pepes cumi mangga muda.
Prior to the main course, the guests were treated to starters
of soup and salad and a video presentation of Lontar's
activities.
Food aside, the evening was quite successful and the
foundation collected US$190,650 for its three special projects
launched in conjunction with Indonesia's 50th anniversary.
The three projects are: Illuminations: Writing Traditions of
Indonesia, On the Record, and Former Points of Views.
Illuminations is an art book which deals with the history of
writing and the art of script writing in Indonesia. The book will
be written by experts in Indonesian writing traditions and will
carry hundreds of pictures of old manuscripts.
Edited by Dr. Ann Kumar of the University of Canberra and John
H. McGlynn, Illuminations is prepared in cooperation with the
National Library, the National Archives and dozens of other
institutions. The book launching at the end of this year will be
highlighted by an international symposium, an exhibition of old
manuscripts and other events. Its Indonesian edition, Candi
Bahas: Tradisi Menulis di Indonesia, will come out early next
year.
On the Record is a series of documentaries on Indonesian
writers to be televised in the middle of this year. Lontar plans
to produce 50 videos and has so far completed five on H.B.
Jassin, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, A.A. Navis, Selasih and Suman
Hasibuan. It is also preparing seven others on Asrul Sani,
Ramadhan K.H., Rivai Apin, Rendra, Sitor Situmorang, Subagio
Sastrowardoyo and Toeti Heraty.
Former Points of View is a book of photographs on Indonesia in
the past (Indonesia Tempo Doeloe). Each photograph will be
accompanied by a quotation from Indonesian literature. The book
will be launched in September this year together with an
exhibition of old postcards at Gedung Antara.
The Lontar Foundation is also working on dozens of other books
and is preparing a series of cards and posters of old
manuscripts.
The foundation, set up on Oct. 28, 1987, has translated the
works of noted Indonesian writers in 12 books. The Lontar
Foundation is also active in film, theater, dance and art as well
as preserving old manuscripts. (lem)