Readwrotes Blog

Visitors examine an image at an exhibition of photos on the Lapindo mudflow disaster in Malang , East Java, on Thursday. The exhibition displays 40 works of 10 artists who once lived in areas now covered by mud. (Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto) The Jakarta Post | Thu, 07/21/2011 3:22 PM

An Alaskan tourist dances with a traditional Balinese dancer during the island’s annual festival at Denpasar Cultural Center on Wednesday. The festival presents 334 performance arts, under a theme of “Self Adaptation in a Multicultural World”. ( Antara/Nyoman Budhiana )

   Massive Pendet: Around 1,650 dancers of Balinese Pendet from kindergartens to senior high schools perform during an opening ceremony of the 23rd National Science Week for University Students at Ngurah Rai stadium in Denpasar on Wednesday. About 113 universities nationwide take part in the event, which will last until Saturday. The massive Pendet dancing managed to break a national record (MURI). JP/Stanny Angga

Rafadi Hakim , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 08/18/2009 1:08 PM | Environment "All living things come from a single ancestor, a single root. Hence, we have represented Indonesia's amazing biodiversity in a *tree of life' with all its branches," said Agus Prijono, illustrator of 98 beautiful yet scientifically accurate drawings of endangered species in Indonesia. As he spoke, he stood in a room decorated in bold greens and browns with a wooden mural of a tree, surprisingly a description of Darwin's theory of evolutionary lineages. Agus Prijono and Piet Eggen were the two illustrators of the works shown in PILI (Pusat Informasi Lingkungan Hidup) Green-Indonesia's exhibition, "Revisiting Darwin's Tree of Life: Biodiversity of Indonesia, Drawings of Threatened Beauty", at the Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, which was opened Aug. 11 with the support of the Ford Foundation. Eye for detail: The “Revisiting Darwin’s T...

Tue, 08/18/2009 1:08 PM | Lifestyle Independence Day on Aug. 17 was celebrated peacefully and cheerfully across the country. Formal flag hoisting ceremonies and games were held to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the country from Aceh to Papua. People from various walks of life observed the day, many wearing traditional costume, a symbol of the diversity of the country. The day belonged to all people and even foreigners joined in the freedom day celebrations.

Associated Press , White Plains, New York | Thu, 08/13/2009 11:27 PM | World Les Paul, the guitarist and inventor who changed the course of music with the electric guitar and multitrack recording and had a string of hits, many with wife Mary Ford, died on Thursday. He was 94. According to Gibson Guitar, Paul died of complications from pneumonia at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side. He had been hospitalized in February 2006 when he learned he won two Grammys for an album he released after his 90th birthday, "Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played." "I feel like a condemned building with a new flagpole on it," he joked. As an inventor, Paul helped bring about the rise of rock 'n' roll and multitrack recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the "tracks" in the finished...

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 08/07/2009 6:43 PM Journalist Bahana Patria Gupta read a poem written by WS Rendra in Semarang to express condolences for his death. Dozens of local artists and journalists held a show on Friday to remember Rendra’s legacy. (JP/Suherdjoko)

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 08/07/2009 8:46 AM | National WS Rendra's family plans to bury the noted poet and artist before Friday prayer around noon at his Bengkel Teater workshop in Citayam Depok. Muhammad Muktar Al Husini, an Islamic teacher at the workshop, told tempointeraktif.com that the family was still waiting the arrival of Rendra's sons Sammy and Jonas from Yogyakarta and Kalimantan, respectively. “God willing, if all the family have gathered, we will bury him before the Friday prayer,” he said. The family, however, also had decided for burial after the Friday prayer in the afternoon if the sons were unable to arrive Friday. Willibrodus Surendra Broto Rendra passed away Thursday at about 10 p.m. at a hospital in Depok. He was 74. (dre)

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 08/02/2009 7:51 PM | National Street fashion festival: A dancer performs during the Jember Fashion Carnival in Jember, East Java, on Sunday. More than 600 alternative designs were displayed along the 3.6 kilometer catwalk. JP/ID Nugroho

Dian Kuswandini , The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Sat, 07/18/2009 1:13 PM | Lifestyle Wet terrarium (flickr.com) There is something about nature that brightens up our lives, and with a terrarium — a miniature garden in a glass — you can bring nature into your home or office. Aquariums have long been a feature in many homes, bringing a sense of serenity to go with the aesthetic pleasure. And what aquariums are to water, terrariums are to earth, now making their way into many homes as more and more people embrace the “go green” concept and seek to get a little closer to nature. Gardening is popular as a creative and relaxing pursuit — and a miniature garden is not different. If the weather isn’t right for gardening, or you simply have no space, a terrarium gives you the chance to indulge your green thumb and bring a touch of nature into your life. “If you love gardening but don’t have a lot of time or the space for an outdoor garden, a ter...

Triwik Kurniasari , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 07/19/2009 9:24 AM | People kapanlagi.com This man has been through various characters in many movies and performances, delving deeply into the roles to show his devotion to acting. For instance, he plays a Balinese journalist in the Indonesian movie Telegram; stars as a dukun santet (sorcerer) in Kafir (Infidel); and plays the head of a political party in Capres or Calo President (A Broker for the President). Born in East Java’s Jember on Aug. 31, 1962, Sujiwo Tejo even made the big sacrifice in Capres of having his hair cut — something he had not done since university — in a bid to suit his role better. After a series of characters, hard work and even sacrifices for his love of acting, Sujiwo decided to step into a new profession as a film director. While he has directed a number of documentaries and theater shows, directing a movie is a brand new thing for Tejo. He is currently...

By Phil Mercer Sydney 16 July 2009 Organizers of one of Australia's most prestigious film festivals say the Chinese government has demanded that it reject a controversial documentary about ethnic Uighurs. Beijing's dismay at the film about exiled Uighur businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer follows violent ethnic disturbances in China's Xinjiang region. Rebiya Kadeer China blames Rebiya Kadeer for instigating this month's ethnic riots in Xinjiang. Chinese consular staff in Australia contacted organizers of the Melbourne International Film Festival urging them to dump a film about the exiled businesswoman. She is a strident campaigner for the rights of China's mainly Muslim Uighurs, who have close cultural ties to Central Asia and Turkey. She denies having any role in the unrest and says she opposes violence. The documentary looks at Kadeer's relationship with her family and the effect her political ...

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 07/15/2009 11:23 AM | Headlines As a capital city with a population of around 12 million, Jakarta is the melting pot of Indonesia's more than 500 ethnic groups. Far from home, most of Jakarta's ethnic population regroup and get involved in various social activities. One such group gathers members from Sarik village in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. "The street markets in Menteng have been dominated by Sarik folk since the 1960s," said Masrihal Jamaris, a souvenir vendor. The Sarik vendors have long been known for selling their wares along Jl. Surabaya, popularly known for a row of small kiosks selling antiques and souvenirs. The one way street has been a haven for collectors looking for rare items such as brasswares. Later, the Sarik community emerged in the 1970s in Ciputat, South Jakarta, Mashirhal said. Currently, there are more than 200 Sarik traders in Menteng and Ciputat, he said. ...

Triwik Kurniasari , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Sun, 07/12/2009 11:09 AM | Headlines Michael Jackson has a special place in the heart of many Indonesian musicians, including prominent singer Glenn Fredly, who hailed the American entertainer as an inspiration. As a tribute to the King of Pop, Glenn put on a gig Friday night. More than a hundred of music lovers were overcome with nostalgia when Glenn and fellow singers performed at a show called "Tribute to Michael Jackson with My Everything ... Glenn Fredly" at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jakarta. Michael Jackson was pronounced dead on June 25 shortly after being rushed to hospital in Los Angeles. Authorities are investigating the cause of his death. Clad in a red shirt, black pants, a black tie, a black fedora hat and a pair of sneakers, Glenn opened the show with his hit single "You are My Everything". With his excellent and powerful voice, Glenn then delivered 12 pop...

Matheos Viktor Messakh , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 07/13/2009 11:28 AM | Features The tricky part about making a set of wind chimes is deciding what to leave out. Choosing which tones to include can be even trickier if the chimes are made from bamboo, glass, shell, stone, porcelain or wood. Tired with the routine of servicing his customers' pianos, Abdul Madjid Gangga decided to create a musical instrument that did not require regular fine tuning. He found his answer in wind chimes. "When I was servicing pianos, I was thinking about a musical instrument that needed tuning only once ever," Abdul Madjid told The Jakarta Post during the creative industries exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center last week. "Although I made a living servicing pianos, the routine of it bored me." As the material used to create wind chimes can have a large impact on the sound it produces, Abdul Madjid spent four years fro...

The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta | Mon, 07/13/2009 10:40 AM | People JP/Slamet Susanto People who see Hetty Ansing’s paintings are likely to guess that she is Indonesian, such is the authenticity of her depictions of the country. But the 50-year-old Dutch artist has no ties to Indonesia, other than frequent visits to the land she has come to love. Ansing’s artworks depict a complete character of Indonesian society, exploring elements ranging from its natural environment to its traditional culture. The impact of Ansing’s work is such that it has evoked tears among Dutch residents with memories of Indonesia, or Indonesian people living in Holland. “Indonesian society and culture, especially as practiced in Yogyakarta and Bali, are my sources of inspiration”, Ansing said on a recent visit to Yogyakarta. “That’s why many of them think that I come from Indonesia when they view my works.” The painting Plow is a prime example of the Indonesi...

Cynthia Webb , Contributor , Yogyakarta | Sun, 07/12/2009 11:09 AM | Arts & Design Kinkin with two of his works at Via Via Café. JP/Cynthia Webb Kinkin's second solo exhibition "Indonesia Today", opened recently in Via Via Caf*, Yogyakarta. Via Via supports emerging young artists by exhibiting their works, which are seen there by the many foreign tourists who come to this trendy and busy caf* in the heart of the tourist accommodation area. This show can be seen until Aug. 6 The 35-year-old artist is based in Bali, but is originally from Tasikmalaya, West Java. His real name is Abdul Aziz, but he works under his professional name of Kinkin. When he was very young, Kinkin was naturally gifted as a draughtsman, although there was no-one else in the family with artistic talent or interest. Only when he went to study at Jakarta State University (UNJ) did he at last receive formal training. He has the rare talent of being ...

By Cathy Majtenyi Meru, Kenya 11 July 2009 Female genital cutting, or circumcision, is rampant in parts of Kenya. The procedure involves removing part or all of the external female genitalia and is typically performed on girls as a rite of passage into womanhood. Critics describe it as female genital mutilation, or FGM. In the town of Meru, Eastern province, the Catholic Church has come up with an alternative rite of passage for girls and young women. A group of grandmothers demonstrate how to serve food and which herbs to use to cure specific ailments A group of grandmothers demonstrate how to serve food and which herbs to use to cure specific ailments. They are teaching the next generation the secrets of womanhood, like their mothers and grandmothers before them. These girls and young women in the Meru area of Kenya are going through traditional training of how to be a good wife, mother and woman, but with ...

Mon, 07/06/2009 2:20 PM | Opinion I would like to thank Matheos Viktor Messakh for his fine article titled "Mahabharata's heroes return" in the July 1 issue of The Jakarta Post. It's high time that some attention is paid to the nostalgic longings of those of us Indonesians who are now decidedly well past our fifties, but who, in our very youthful years (and here I'm talking about the 50s and early 60s!) mostly had comics from Indonesia, created by Indonesians, to enjoy. Most of the comics that appeared on the Indonesian market in the 1950s were published by Toko Melodie, located on Jl. A.B.C. 19, Bandung and these were generally wayang stories about the heroes of Mahabharata and Ramayana. The attentive reader and ardent fan of classic Indonesian comics may have noticed that on the second photograph in the article, a cover of one of the several Wayang Purwa issues, depicting Batara Guru or Lord Shiva, is shown. The Wayang Purwa series...

I Wayan Juniartha , The Jakarta Post , Singapadu | Thu, 06/25/2009 11:24 AM | Surfing Bali It was a sight to see: The GEOKS stage transformed into a dreamscape of moving visual and sound narratives during Monday night's performance of Mimpi (Dream). The dance-drama, a collaborative performance by Balinese and American actors, successfully reminded the audience that popular folklore and children's tales can, in the hands of a skilled director and passionate actors, be turned into a powerful, mesmerizing performance. "Mimpi indeed reminds us of the rich legacy of folklore we have here in Bali," said GEOKS founder I Wayan Dibia. "It is up to us now to construct and present that legacy in a new light so it can speak to the younger, modern generation." ( JP/I Wayan Juniartha) A noted choreographer, Dibia has a reputation for taking on daring, sometimes controversial, artistic explorations. GEOKS, a learni...