Sat, 04 Sep 1999

Ujungpandang prepares for art festival

JAKARTA (JP): Traditional performances by the Sulawesi natives of Makassar, Mak Coppong and Mak Cammana, along with choreography by Korea-born Sehn Hea-Ha will feature at the opening of the Makassar Art Forum '99 in Ujungpandang on Sunday.

The forum will also feature various performances, including performing arts, a fine arts exhibition, a cultural exhibition, and an international film festival.

A photography exhibition, Makassar Tempo Doeloe, or the Olden Makassar, is also listed in the art forum, which will be opened by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman.

Around 200 local and foreign artists and critics are scheduled to take part in the event, which will run until Sept. 12 and take place at three venues: the Ford Rotterdam fortress, the South Sulawesi Cultural Park and the Societet de Harmonie Art Center.

Two theatrical performances will be featured every night from Sept. 6 until Sept. 12 at the art center.

The theatrical performances will feature various groups, among others, Teater Sanggar Merah Putih from Makassar, Teater Tetas from Jakarta and Teater Api from Surabaya. Artist Alan Whykes from Australia will also stage a monologue.

The art forum will also be attended by critics. From theater, there will be Akhudiat of Surabaya; Butet Kartaredjasa, Agus Noor, Indra Tranggono of Yogyakarta; Elizabeth Morrell and Lauren Bain of Australia; and Michael Bodden of Canada.

Six dance performances will be staged every night at the Ford Rotterdam fortress from Sept. 6 until Sept. 99.

The dances will be presented by, among others, foreign participants Erica Rebollar, Carol McDowell, Eko Supriyanto, Sen Hea-Ha and local participants, such as Ery Mefri of Padang, West Sumatra, Tetet Srie WD of Jakarta, Ida Wibowo and Bimo Wiwohatmo of Yogyakarta, Rudy Rukamarata of Jakarta and traditional dancers from Ujungpandang.

Music lovers can enjoy the works of various musicians, including Ben Pasaribu of Medan, Chaerul Slamet of Yogyakarta, Dian Agp of Jakarta, from Sept. 10 to Sept. 12.

The international film festival is organized from Sept. 5 to Sept. 12 presenting films from Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Canada, China, Italy, Vietnam, Czech, Korea, New Zealand, Yugoslavia, Berlia, Poland, and France.

The film festival, which will also screen noted films Kuldesak and Daun Diatas Bantal (A Leaf on A Pillow), will also include discussions featuring Indonesian talented filmmakers such as Garin Nugroho, Riri Riza, Mira Lesmana and actress Christine Hakim.

Fine arts exhibition, from Sept. 5 to Sept. 12, will feature the works of various artists, such as Mangatas Pasaribu from Medan, Putut Pramono from Solo, and Tisna Sanjaya, Isa Perkasa, Ucok Siregar from Bandung. (ste)