Rendra intends to remain an independent artist

Rendra intends to remain an independent artist

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's leading poet, W.S. Rendra, who turned 60 last week, said over the weekend he will stand strong on his principle of remaining an independent artist.

Rendra said Saturday he will not accept any funds from political parties, the government, the Armed Forces, or foreign companies and organizations to finance his performances.

"I just want to be a free, honest and beautiful person just like a charcoal maker I met years ago. I believe by refusing such things I will be able to be that way," Rendra said.

The poet was responding to the question of whether he plans to accept any offers from political parties to read his poems at campaign rallies for the 1997 general election.

Rendra, who said that the charcoal maker convinced him to become a poet, said that the public has supported him most of his life and in return he vows loyalty to the public.

He said that during his career many people, most of them not wealthy, have helped him to survive with financial assistance.

Eggs

"When I was being held at the Guntur military police detention center, a woman, a total stranger to me, who knew of one of my works, but not the title, sent me eggs every day," he said.

He said it has been difficult for him to reject the offers made to him, but he pledged to stick to his principles.

"Sometimes I am tempted to take the offers. A company once offered Rp 100 million (US$44,444) and a studio for a show, but I asked God for the strength of will to refrain from taking it," he said.

Rendra said he would like to perform on television to reach a bigger audience, but that Indonesian TV stations are reluctant to produce such programs.

Rendra plans to celebrate his birthday with the public by reading some of his epic poetry and ballads. The readings, sponsored by Gatra weekly magazine, will take place on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17 at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art center.

Rendra said that the two-hour shows are his way of tracing the journey of his life, his adventures and the myths which have influenced his life.

"I always imagine the myths when I write something," he said, citing his ballad Terbunuhnya Atmokarpo. (The Death of Atmokarpo).

"I have not yet decided how many epics and ballads I will read in the shows, but I will make sure the readings take no more than two hours," he said. "I wouldn't want to bore the audience." (yns)