Poet Sitok not afraid to say it like it is

Omar Prihandono, Contributor, Jakarta

What are the chances you would find yourself sitting on the back of a motorbike, behind one of the country's most celebrated poets, who had offered to drive you to buy a pack of cigarettes because you told him you didn't like his brand and also could not steer a motorbike?

Well, that's exactly what happened on a sunny Sunday morning recently.

The poet-cum-volunteer ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver was none other than Sitok Srengenge, who fits the bill as the eccentric artist in looks, but also reveals his inner wisdom and fresh logical thoughts.

"Don't say I betrayed the literary community simply because I launched my novel at the Pakubuwono Residence," the poet, 39, said when questioned about the launching of his debut novel Menggarami Burung Terbang (Salting a Flying Bird) at the ostentatious apartments in South Jakarta.

"It's a purely practical and strategic way of marketing, as I want literary works to be appreciated by a broader audience who never expect such an event would take place right on their doorstep."

But the author of four published poetry collections clearly knew the upscale setting for the launching of the book -- the tale of a Javanese village in the aftermath of the 1965 upheaval -- would bring some brickbats his way.

He said, however, he did not give a damn, quoting fellow poet and mentor Rendra's wry view of the ups and downs of life: "Disaster and luck are the same, praise and mockery make no difference, you just have to go on".

Born Sitok Sunarto on Aug. 22, 1965, in Dorolegi village, Purwodadi, Central Java, the father of one daughter has written poetry and prose since junior high school.

"All I knew was that writing those words that lingered in my head made me happy, though it never crossed my mind at that time that I'd still have to deal with poetry and all, after 25 years and counting."

The young Sitok had no idea where life would take him.

"Let me tell you, Dorolegi was a small village where I saw only four occupations around me, including farmers, hansip (civilian guard) and paramedics who only visited our village once every three months. Those professions did not go along with my poetry, so I grew up a boy without goals."

However, after finishing high school in the Central Java capital of Semarang, Sitok found his calling: Bengkel Teater, a theater company led by Rendra himself in Depok, West Java.

In the close-knit community which resembles a band of brothers, the teenager from humble roots explored his artistic talent to the full.

From poetry to monologues, singing to plays, Sitok learned the ropes and ultimately rose to become Rendra's favorite protegee. His mentor even changed the young man's name to Sitok Srengenge, with the latter word meaning sun in Javanese.

But in 1995, after a 10-year association with Bengkel Teater -- including involvement in the unforgettable Panembahan Rekso and Lysistrata performances -- Sitok decided to try his luck as an independent artist in Jakarta.

"I wasn't afraid of being homeless and penniless after leaving Bengkel Teater. I believe that if I treat the arts well and seriously, it will never leave me suffering and miserable. That's why I hate people who label themselves artists but have never been serious to even produce a piece of artwork. They just give art and culture a bad name."

The interview venue then moved from the living room of his house, located in a leafy, prestigious real estate complex in Depok, to Sitok's neat work station.

Here is proof of his words that idealism does not hurt, and that the artistic life could provide a decent and settled living. But there was a time in Sitok's life when idealism broke his heart.

One day, a friend of his wrote and performed in what Sitok terms an "uninspiring play", given the fact that the friend had earned a reputation as one of the country's most notable modern writers.

Sitok's trenchant criticism in a weekly magazine infuriated the friend, who has since boycotted the works of Sitok and those in his inner circle

"He won't talk to me anymore. For me, that really hurts, you know, as I lost a friend over a subjective viewpoint that had absolutely nothing to do with our friendship. Strange, huh?"

Does it reflect the immature mind set of local artists?

"I am afraid I have to say yes. The condition was made even worse with the so-called literature awards that name a winner without any sufficient literary argument or parameters. They simply mislead the public."

It's hard not to conclude from the three-hour interview that he holds a gloomy outlook on the local arts and performance scene.

There's only a few young, promising talents in stage performances, young writers tend to go the easy route with trashy pop novels and many theater companies now merely serve as soup kitchens for the young and unemployed, who grow their hair long to look the part but never bother to read books to improve their creativity.

"Look, there's always a way to change it, even through a less- literary way. Why don't we create a writing or acting contest like AFI (Akademi Fantasi Indosiar, a popular local TV talent- program) and give the contestants some scripts to act out or thought-provoking subjects to be developed into a piece of writing.

"Broadcast all the pain and joy during the creative process and before we know it, we'll have the freshest of talents. It's trashy, but I am sure people will love it."

Let's see if any TV station will take Sitok up on his unusual idea, or if the waiting game is too long, count how many copies of his 539-page thick history novel sell. Then again, maybe the carefree artist doesn't really care about such things.

"Writing and performing on stage is the cool way to enjoy my life. I think I will stick to that forever."