TIM organizes events galore to pique art lovers' interests
JAKARTA (JP): Art and cultural events, including dance performances, a graphic exhibition, a theater symposium and art competitions, have been organized by the Jakarta Arts Council (TIM) to boost the development of art and culture here.
The programs, held in cooperation with the Jakarta Arts Center, provincial art councils and centers, will start with a graphic art exhibition. The works of 40 artists from across the country will be on show at the exhibition. The move is expected to promote graphic art, making it as popular as paintings or other artwork.
State Minister of National Development Planning/chairman of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Boediono is scheduled to open the exhibition on Feb. 23 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center's Gallery II. It will run through March 4.
Another program is the presentation of four choreographies, taking various themes from local tradition and the present situations in Aceh, East Timor, Irian Jaya and South Sulawesi. The show is scheduled for Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center.
Choreographer Indra Zubir addresses religious issues in his Syahadat (Profession of Faith), while Abdi Bashit's Hak (Rights) deals with community issues, people's rights and the social gap between the rich and the poor.
Unjust treatment toward women is addressed by Lalu Suryadi in his piece, Wanita Yang Luluh dari Arah Timur (Broken Women from the East), produced by Surya Production.
Jeko Kurniawan Siompo's Asmat Dani features harmonious relations between two Irian Jaya tribes, the Asmat and the Dani.
Ticket prices are on sale for between Rp 5,000 and Rp 15,000.
Several competitions are also on the list.
An alternative film/video competition is being held to help in the resurrection of local filmmakers and directors. Interested participants can submit their work until Feb. 28.
There are some requirements for film and video submissions. For instance, they should be a maximum of 30 minutes long. Winners will be selected by a respected panel of judges which includes George Kamarullah, Marselli Suparno, Dwi Koendoro, Aspar Paturusi and SM Ardan. Winning pieces will not be picked based on production costs but on ability to express art.
Winners will be announced by the end of March. First prize will win Rp 5 million, second and third prize winners will get Rp 3 million and Rp 2 million respectively.
The council is also holding a competition on the creation of seriosa song. Seriosa is usually classical or semiclassical music and mostly performed in theater or opera shows. The contest is open for public participation until Feb. 28.
Among the requirements to take part in the contest are: a composition must be originally composed by the participants, it may be classical or contemporary, use 16-line selected lyrics handpicked by the Jakarta Arts Council, be an unpublished composition and be between three to five minutes long.
Chatarina W. Leimena, Tony Prabowo, Sudharnoto and Alfred Simanjuntak are the contest's judges and winners will be announced on March. 19. First prize winner will receive Rp 1.5 million, while second and third prize winners will get Rp 1.2 million and Rp 1 million respectively.
The Jakarta Arts Council has also received 99 short stories published in 16 dailies in eight cities to take part in the short story competition. The winners will be announced next month.
Theater
One of the most important programs of all may be the 10th Indonesia Theater Conference, taking Theater in Cultural Diversity as its theme. The conference will be held in Yogyakarta from March 3 to March 7, featuring panel discussions, workshops and theater performances from 19 groups from across the country.
Rendra's Bengkel Theater and Dindon WS' Teater Kubur will also take part in the event. Rendra will present Kereta Kencana (Golden Chariot), while Dandon will feature Sandiwara Dol (Dol's Drama).
Performing theater groups from outside Jakarta include Aceh Arts Council, Bali Experimental Theater, Teater Profesi from Medan, Laskar Panggung from Bandung, Yogyakarta Arts Council, Teater Ruang from Surakarta and Teater Api from Surabaya.
The performances will be staged respectively at the Socitet building on Jl. Malioboro (behind the Vredeberg fort), Purna Budaya hall at Taman Budaya, Gadjah Mada University campus in Bulaksumur and the France-Indonesia Institute in Jl. Sagan, north of Bethesda hospital.
"I'm really surprised by the extraordinary response we've had from theater groups, especially those coming from outside Jakarta. They are even taking part in the event at their own expense," Ratna Riantiarno, member of the Jakarta Arts Council who chairs the meeting's organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post.
"I'm really proud of the theater people's spirit," she added, citing that even noted playwright Rendra, who is in the Netherlands, will come home for the event and to secure a sponsor for his performance on March 7.
She said the council received Rp 450 million from Bappenas to hold all the programs. The theater got Rp 65 million of it.
The theater committee, she said, openly told each theater group of its inability to cover their expenses due to a lack of funds.
"Can you image organizing a national theater meeting with such an amount?" Ratna laughed. "But we made it ... although I still have to find donors to pay for some matters, like lighting and sound systems."
Some noted speakers have also confirmed their participation in the discussions.
Rendra, Putu Wijaya, N. Riantiarno, Dindon will speak about directing on March 4. On the following day, Butet Kartaredjasa and Gde Dhama will be among speakers discussing the ethnic spirit of theater, while Harry Rusli, Jadug Ferianto, Tony Prabowo, Embi C. Noer will talk about music in theater.
Several topics are scheduled to be discussed on March 6. The first one is on theater and reality, featuring Tommy F. Awuy, Darmanto Yatman, Ratna Sarumpaet and Afrizal Malna as speakers. The next topics scheduled are professional theatrical reviews, stage and production management, and theater reviews.
On the following and last day, Slamet Rahardjo, Christine Hakim, Adi Kurdi, Niniek L. Karim and Renny Djajoesman are scheduled as speakers on film and theater, while Alex Komang, Deddy Mizwar, Didi Petet, Maudy Kusnaedy and Titie DJ will take part in a talk on theater and artists. (ste)