Major arts events planned for 1995

JAKARTA (JP): The year 1995, when Indonesia marks its 50th year of independence, could well put Indonesia on the map in the world's arts scene.

The government announced its plan to host two major art events of international scale, yesterday.

The first one is the an international exhibition and seminar on Contemporary Arts of the Non-Aligned Countries (CANAC) in May, to coincide with a ministerial meeting of the 111-strong Third World's movement.

The second, called the Art Summit Indonesia (ASI): Music and Dance, is slated for September through October, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Nunus Supardi, secretary of the ministry's Directorate General for Culture, told reporters that fifteen countries will take part in the arts summit to present their latest works in music and dance.

"We hope they will feature their new work, produced between 1991 and 1994," said.

The directorate general's art director, Soetopo, said CANAC will exhibit all contemporary art from the 111 NAM members, such as painting, sculpture, print, drawing, fiber work, ceramics, photography and mixed media.

"For contemporary arts, each country will be asked to include their five best works," Soetopo explained.

Jakarta Hilton Convention Center, Taman Ismail Marzuki, and Gedung Kesenian Jakarta are among the venues slated for the two events.

One of CANAC's programs will be an international art congress which he considered to be the first of its kind, Soetopo said.

CANAC will use as its logo one of the works of the late painter Affandi, Matahari (the Sun).

Soetopo said it is a tribute to the noted expressionist, who is also one of the pioneers on contemporary arts in Indonesia.

"It's to honor him as a leading contemporary artist whose works have been recognized internationally," he said. (11)