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Keliling-keliling
Seniwati di Jakarta
It was with great pleasure that I attended the significant occasion of the opening of the 10th Anniversary exhibition of Seniwati Gallery. As one of the original members of Ikatan Seniwati di Bali, it was wonderful to be in Jakarta to join in celebrating Seniwati's tenth year of existence and success! It was a great opportunity to catch up with old friends such as Muntiana Tedja, Supri and Cok Mas Astiti, as well as to meet some of the new members such as Mutiara.
41 adult artists and 29 children participated in the show which was held at the Cipta II Gallery at TIM from 5 - 15 January 2001. The showincluded some wonderful work by known and unknown artists, many of whom travelled from Bali to be at the opening. This exhibition refelected 10 years of dedication, inspiration and sheer hard work by an amazing woman - Mary Northmore-Aziz. No one on earth could have done more for this important movement than Mary. She has devoted herself totally to the task and has created the only Gallery in South East Asia devoted entirely to women. Thank you Mary for your tireless work and devotion, you are an inspiration not only to all women - to everyone, everywhere. If you believe in your dream - and give your heart and energy to reach your goal - your dreams can come true. (Ed)
For further info contact:
Mary Northmore
Director
Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women
Ubud Bali Indonesia
www.seniwatigallery.com
ph/fax (0361)975485
Ayu Utami Receives Award
The Prince Klaus Award 2000 has been awarded to 32-year-old Indonesian writer Ayu Utami for her novel "Saman". The winners were announced on 12 December by Prince Klaus of Netherlands. Ayu Utami is one of ten people from all over the world who will receive the award.
As part of the award each winner will receive Euro$20,000. Ms Van Leevwen, press atache representing the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta pointed out that the jury had selected Utami's "Saman" because the novel discusses sex and inter-religious relations which are uncommon subjects in Indonesian society.
She said the jury had particluarly appreciated the novel's transparency and tolerance which provides a balance to conservative values.
Saman was first published in 1998 and was winner of the Indonesian Literary Competition in the same year.
Krakatau Shakes
Music Reveiew from Byron Shire Echo
by Peter Dawson, BayFM Community Radio
It started with a picnic and drum jam in the beachpark. The Indonesian world fusion band, Krakatau had arrived in town. Hosted by presenters of BayFm's "Suara Indonesia"(AIAA) the picnic set a friendly mood which encompassed the group's very successful stay.
The performance in the Backroom was explosive! Led by keyboardist, Dwiki Dharmawan the nine-piece began the first set gently but soon reached an earth-shattering crescendo.Dwiki's solo in the first number was as adventurous and far-reaching as the best of 70's legends Emerson, Lake and Palmer
The music, sourced mainly from the current CD, 'Magical Match", was vibrant and heavily percussive. Of the nine musicians, five played traditional gamelan instruments, including the melodic gong-like bonang and xylophonic saron, plus the double-headed kendang drum. Frontline trio Efik Zulkifli, Tudi Rahayu (Oseng) and Zainal Arifin, played with panache and enthusiasm, frequently joining in on the chant-like vocals.Lead vocalist Trie Utami, has an amazingly strong prescense despite her diminutive size. Dressed immaculately ina costume based on ethnic design, she danced with evocative style and powerful emotion. Her superb voice soared above syncopated rhythms. Despite the limited space on stage, she seemed to be omnipresent. The goddess within came shining through!
An incredible duet between drummer, Agus Azis, and percussionist/kendang player, Ade Rudiana, was a highlight of the show for me.
The second set bagan with the plaintive and unaccompanied solo voice of Trie Utami, whose songs originated in many different islands of the Indonesian archipeligo. The senior member of Krakatau and graduate of Seattle University, Pra Budidharma, kept everything very tight with 'the world's only s'lendro fretless bass'.
Yoyon Darsono played haunting melodies on the suling and his rebab performance echoed the vocal dance from Trie Utami. The finale was a percussive extravaganza involving every member, which left the crowd wanting much, much more. I left the venue greatly satisfied as if I had been served a delicious Indonesian banquet.
This article was reproduced with the permission of Peter Dawson, Newrybar NSW.
Gamelan Novo Kasatria
Mike Burns of Gamelan Carimakan fame has now relocated to Newcastle area and has been creating a flourishing gamelan culture in the Newcastle-Maitland Region. One of his fairly new groups Novo Kasatria has been working in Javanese gamelan from West, Central and East Java. They have been playing Javanese slendro and pelog gamelan as well as slendro Angklung Banyuwangi.
The group have been performing during 2000 at Newcastle's Mattara and Fiesta Festivals. Plans for the New Year inlcude working with wayang kulit and Mike's fusion of Australian, Celtic and Javanese music and puppetry - The Wayang Kelly, last seen at Woodford 1999, with a 2000 version performed at Wellington, New Zealand and Jakarta.
Other plans for the future inlcude working with Sydney's Vi King and Sydney Gamelan Java as well as with Gamelan Suara Naga members from Armidale.
Contact: Mike Burns
Director, Novo Kasatria
Phone:02 4956 1058
Great Praise and Appreciation to Mike Burns for all the support he has given to the Byron Gamelan Society, AIAA NSW Nth Coast Branch and the Krakatau Musician-in-Residence Project by lending us his beautiful bronze slendro gamelan and for inviting Oseng to visit Newcastle. The project would not have been possible without his generosity. And most recently his enthusiastic and determined effort in co-ordinating the New Year's Eve gamelan performance for the Community in Unity Festival in Byron Bay. THANK YOU MIKE!! (Ed)
Made Wianta - A 30 Year Retrospective
"Made Wianta was born in 1949 in the village of Apuan in the remote highands of Tabanan Regency in Bali. Son of Gde Labdana, priest of Pura Pucak Padang Dawa, the temple in Apuan famous for its barongs. Wianta was bequeathed the rich art of his land and of divine ritual in all its beauty. He also studied dance with his father, and was soon giving performances as a baris warrior dancer.
After completing junior high school, Wianta chose to study dance at KOKAR in Denpasar. Dropping out after only a few months he found himself enrolling in the new school SSRI -Indonesian Secondary School of Art, unexpectantly he found he would realize his dream to learn and create, through the world of painting."
In 1970 Wianta continued his studies in Visual Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Yogyakarta. His time at the Academy contributed much in the way of new ideas and new images. Wianta discovered the whole range of painting styles and came into contact with the work of Van Gogh Kandinsky, Picasso, Dali and so many others. He wanted to model himself on their creative liberty.After travels to Europe, where his knowledge and understanding of modern art grew, Wianta completed his studies in Yogjakarta in 1980 and finally settled in Denpasar to pursue his career as an artist. A career which has been enormously successful spanning three decades and has seen the creation of many significant art works, events and performances.
One year ago, Wianta commemorated the arrival of the new millennium byco-ordinating a Festival for Peace which included towing, with the aide of a helicopter, a 2,000 meter long piece of clothwith "peace" written in every language of the world across Bali to bereceived by 200 white-clad dancers waiting on Padang Galak beach in Sanur.
One year later Wianta is now holding an exhibition of over 200 painting created during the past 30 years. The exhibition will run simultaneously in 3 locations until January 31, 2001. The three locations for the exhibition will be Rudana Museum in Ubud, the GRP Singasana in Sanur andGenta Fine Art Gallery in Ubud.
Long known for his performance art, Made Wianta will also be presenting awork entitled "Gunungan" comprised of a mountain made from 2 tons of rice,200 eggs. And 21 dancers all dressed in white. The eggs and rice willeventually be distributed to needy villagers.Don't miss Made Wianta's exhibition at the three locations duringJanuary.Sources: "Wianta" Biography, published by Buratwangi 1990
and Bali Update.
Qantas Awards
The Australian airline QANTAS will donate RP. 320 million (+/- US$ 35,500)to various Indonesian-based social programs including academicscholarships,community health programs, repairs of local orphanages, and theconstructionof public bathroom facilities.
The awards were announced in Jakarta during December by Mr. John Campbell, General Manager of QANTAS Airways for Indonesia.
Lombok on Canvas
A very interesting art event recently took place in Lombok. Two Lombok artists, Soewito Moekarni and Tonie Moersajid held a two-man art exhibition called "Lombok on Canvas" in early January.
Soewito Moekarni and Tonie Moersajid are members ofGallery Sawron and have spent more than ten years portraying the unique environment and culture of Lombok where they were raised.The exhibition was held at The Oberoi in Lombok which is located on the north coast, opposite the Gili islands.
For further information contact Trisna Leuwers
The Oberoi Resort Indonesia
Phone 62-(0) 361-730361 fax 62-(0) 361-730791
E-mail:obrblise@indosat.net.id
Dodi Darmadi
Introducing a Traditional Indonesian music experienceWith DODI DARMADI AND AGUS PURWANTO
Multi-talented musician and teacher, Dodi Darmadi has now relocated to Canberra and has started gathering interested people together to learn and enjoy the music of his native Bandung - Musik Sunda.
Dodi and fellow artist Agus Purwanto are working together to bring Indonesian music and dance culture to adults, children, school students and Indonesian language teachers in the form of workshops, classes, gamelan and Wayang Golek.
Dodi Darmadi on tour with Krakatau
Dodi Darmadi was born in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Dodi has been actively playing music since 1986, when he began studying at the Indonesian College of Arts Bandung (ASTI Bandung), majoring in Sundanese music. He graduated in 1994 with a specialist degree in Pencak drumming (Indonesian martial arts).
Dodi Darmadi plays many Sundanese traditional musical instruments, such as drum, kecapi, suling, Gamelan and Sundanese songs. While in Bandung, Dodi plays Sundanese music with other groups as well as on his own. Sundanese music is used widely in Indonesia for special occasions, like weddings, opening new buildings, or commercial events. It is also used to accompany dances (mask, folk and new composition dances).
Dodi Darmadi now lives in Australia. His first year was spent in Adelaide and his second in Melbourne. Since early April 2000 he has resided in Canberra. Whilst in Melbourne, Dodi had been teaching Gamelan at Monash and Melbourne Universities. He also conducted workshops in high schools around Victoria. Dodi holds weekly Gamelan classes at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.
Agus Purwanto was born in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Since 1987 Agus has been playing Javanese Gamelan and dance. From 1994 he has resided in Australia and has continued to play gamelan with the gamelan group at Flinders University. He has taken part in many performances, including the international event, Womadelaide. Agus has lived in Canberra since May 1999. He is now with the Indonesian Embassy Gamelan Group as well as the ANU Gamelan Society.
WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES
WORKSHOPS - Students will be given an introduction to Sundanese musical instruments, from how the instruments are made to how to play them. After they have become familiar with the sounds of the instruments, we will teach the basic methods of how to play them.
PERFORMANCES - A performance of music and dance. The musical compositions use drums, flute, kecapi (plucked instrument) and also vocals. The dance is a mask dance. The performance goes for one hour. Students will have a chance to play music in this performance.
COST
Workshop: $200 for 1 hour (max. 40 students)
Performance: $250 for 1 hour (max. 50 students.
Introducing a taste of Indonesian culture to Australian audiences. Dodi and Agus are especially looking forward to sharing this small part of the culture of Indonesia with students who study Bahasa Indonesia. It is hoped that they enjoy the chance to learn about the culture that goes hand in hand with the language they are studying.
For those interested in learning more about Sundanese music, Dodi holds weekly Gamelan classes at the Indonesian Embassy (8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla) each Tuesday from 6-8pm. Private tuition in Sundanese drums, suling Sunda (Sundanese flute) and kecapi (Sundanese sitar) is also available.
For further information, please contact:
Dodi Darmadi at home, ph: 02 6287 7972
or Agus Purwanto, ph: 02 6260 7323
Asia Pacific People's Solidarity Conference in Jakarta
The conference will be held between June 7-10, 2001 and will be organised by the Indonesian Centre for Reform and Social Emancipation (INCREASE). The conference will be held in the city of Jakarta. From within Indonesia, the conference will be supported by the affiliates of INCREASE, namely, the National Student League for Democracy (Liga Nasional Mahasiswa untuk Demokrasi, LNMD), the National Peasant Union (Serikat Tani Nasional, STN), the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (Front Nasional Perjuangan Buruh Indonesia, FNPBI), the People's Cultural Network (Jaringan Kerja Kebudayaan Rakyat, JAKKER), the People's Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Kerakyatan, GPK), and the People's Legal Aid Foundation (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Rakyat, LBHR).
Aims of the Conference
INCREASE sees the conference as having several complimentary aims.
First, INCREASE intends the conference to raise awareness within Indonesia about the nature and role of neo-liberal ecnomic policies, as well as the role of the international financial institutions - such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) - in forcing neo-liberal policies upon the peoples of the Third World in general and Indonesia, in particular. In this context INCREASE hopes the conference will provide a forum whereby Indonesian organisations waging campaigns to improve the welfare and empowerment of the people can come to see their campaigns as linked to the generalised fight against neo-liberalism.
Second, INCREASE hopes that the discussion among Indonesian organisations, intellectuals and activists at the conference as well as between the Indonesian participants and overseas participants will help advance the process of the progressive movement in Indonesia being able to develop its own alternatives to the IMF prescribed neoliberal strategy being enforced at the moment.
Third, INCREASE wished the conference to also function as a vehicle for deepening the cooperation between progressive forces in the Asia Pacific region. Where feasible we also hope that it can help develop cooperation between the Asia Pacific and other major areas, such as Europe, North America and Latin America. At the moment, we have commitments from partner movements in South Korea, the Philippines, Pakistan, East Timor and Australia that they will attend and speak at the conference. We also have confirmations of attendance from activists in the United States and the Netherlands. We expect further confirmations in the next few months. INCREASE hopes that concrete measures to deepen and concretise cooperation will develop out of the conference.
Fourth, INCREASE wishes to introduce the international participants to the struggle for reform and social empowerment, for fundamental social change, in Indonesia. In addition to panels and workshops on a range themes relevant to the general analysis and struggle against neoliberalism, there will also be many panels and workshops that will relate these issues to Indonesia. There will be speakers from all sectors of society and from the progressive political parties and currents in Indonesia. We intend that some of the affiliates sectoral organisations of INCREASE will organise 7-10 exposure programmes in their areas of activity immediately after the conference.
Contact: Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET)
PO Box 458 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
Phone: 61(0)2 96901230 Fax : 61 (0)2 96901381