Luluk Purwanto: You have to keep creating

JAKARTA (JP): Violinist Luluk Purwanto is one of very few Indonesian musicians to have gone international.

She was born in the Central Java city of Surakarta on June 25, 1959. After studying classical violin with Nicolas Varfolomeyer and Kamanji Kristanto, the daughter of Aysha Gani and Julian Purwanto received a scholarship to the Sydney Conservatory of Music.

She has performed at numerous international jazz festivals and has toured all over the world. With her Dutch husband, Rene van Helsdingen, she established The Helsdingen Trio.

The group has released several albums, including Born Free, The Stage Bus, Ojo Ngono and The Waltz. She also has produced several albums with her husband, including Spirit of Spring, Protection and Impressions of Indonesia. Luluk also has recorded a solo album in Indonesia, Segenggam Harap. She is currently involved in organizing the upcoming Jakart@2001 festival.

With The Helsdingen Trio she has set up a website at www.luluk.com. The trio is known for touring and performing on a mobile stage, called The Stage Bus. Luluk recently spoke with The Jakarta Post intern Monique Natalia. The following is an excerpt.

Question: If you had a choice what would you be doing right now?

Answer: Going on another jazz tour. I want to go on another trip anywhere, even though I just got back from a European tour. Right now, I am busy with Jakarta@2001 and I hope everything is well- organized. After that, I can do what I enjoy, which is playing music.

Q: What characteristics do you like about yourself?

A: I'm easygoing. Being easygoing is difficult, though.

Q: What characteristics do you dislike about yourself?

A: Sometimes I am impatient. I hate waiting, but sometimes you cannot avoid it. In Dutch it is called kriegel and gregetan in Javanese.

Q: What makes you angry?

A: I get angry when things are disorganized.

Q: And what makes you cry?

A: Anything. I cry when I'm touched or when I am overjoyed.

Q: What would you like to change about your appearance?

A: Nothing. I love myself! My love is 90 percent for myself and 10 percent goes to other people ... just kidding. I'm lucky. I have a lot of good friends, a nice husband, he's actually my friend too, and a nice family. I'm basically a happy person.

Q: Who do you most admire?

A: My mother. She's smart, wise and she has a lot of friends. She's cool! She is also a musician.

Q: What do you like to wear?

A: I like to wear anything that's easy, easy to wear and doesn't get in the way. I don't like killing myself in my clothes.

Q: Are you an Internet user?

A: Sometimes. I'm not that crazy about it, though. I only look at my website, www.luluk.com. It's a (website) library for every artist. I cannot tell everybody what I have done. If anybody asks I just tell them to check on my website. I have no time to tell them everything. You have to keep creating in life. Keep playing until you die.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. It's a great book. I just discovered it last December when I just got back here. One of my friends introduced me to this book. She asked me if I liked to read. I said yes and she lent me this book. Pramoedya is a great writer. I also love Umar Kayam's works.

Q: What was the last movie you watched?

A: The Green Mile. You know, the one starring Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks is a great actor. I saw it three times. I cried three times. It's deep. It's about executions and miracles. I love miracles. But I don't believe in executions. It's ridiculous. Why do people have to be killed? Who are we? We are human. People make mistakes but they can repent.

Q: What are the qualities of a true friend?

A: They're always there anytime for you. There should be tolerance. True friends don't demand anything and accept you the way you are. I can be friends with anybody, although we can only meet once every five years because I travel a lot.

It's not easy to maintain friendships. A true friend is the one you can trust and who will listen to your advice when he/she makes a mistake.

Q: Do you have any true friends now?

A: My husband is my true friend. He's with me "26 hours a day". He has all the qualifications to be my true friend. When he thinks I am wrong, he will not only give me advice but also possible ways out. My mom is also my true friend.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: I like anything spicy.

Q: What three things would you take with you to a deserted island?

A: Lipstick, a violin and color pencils. They are all basic. I have this obsession with lipstick. Rene knows this. Whenever we go somewhere and I realize I forgot to bring my lipstick, he will do anything to get some for me.

I don't know why but I just have to have my lipstick with me all the time. Also my violin. I take my violin everywhere I go so I have it any time I want to play.

Q: Do you have a name for your violin?

A: Yes, I call it my frog.