Taufiq Ismail Poetry Recital Breathes Literary Life into TIM
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Verses by the maestro Taufiq Ismail were recited at the 136th edition of Semaan Puisi, reviving a literary spirit that resonated through the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Centre (PDS) at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM).
Carrying the theme “Taufiq Ismail: Struggle, Works, and Recognition”, the event held on Thursday (13/8) was no ordinary poetry reading. Adopting the concept of ‘semaan’, which traditionally means listening attentively and solemnly, the gathering succeeded in uniting the emotions of literature enthusiasts across generations.
“PDS HB Jassin is the best place to celebrate the depth of Taufiq Ismail’s words. Here, literary history does not die; rather, it pulses and revives our souls once more,” said Ayie Suminar, one of the founders of Komoenitas Makara, an arts and culture community based at the Makara Art Centre, University of Indonesia, in a press statement received on Friday.
The elegance of the event radiated from the simplicity of the stage set within a room housing historical archives, recalling the true essence of literature as the guardian of civilisation’s gateway.
Taufiq Ismail, a figure of the ’66 generation whose poems are always sharply attuned to social realities yet serene in spirituality, brought with him the spirit of struggle and the beauty of words. As the verses of his legendary poems flowed, the atmosphere of PDS HB Jassin trembled with a blend of bitterness, emotion, and profound longing.
Every pause for breath and intonation delivered by the afternoon’s readers seemed to invite the audience to delve back into history, to reflect on the essence of humanity, and ultimately to surrender to the Creator.
The event was attended by a number of national literary figures, cultural observers, academics, and young people. Through graceful language and a presentation rich in aesthetic value, this Semaan Puisi succeeded in becoming a cultural oasis that reinforces TIM’s position as an epicentre of artistic and literary movement, timeless and enduring.