Below are some of the most notable moments to remind us of the memorable year we will soon farewell. 

JULY

July 6-9

Karo’s festival of flowers and fruits

The region of Karo, a popular North Sumatra tourist destination, known for its cool temperatures, again held its annual Flowers and Fruits Festival this year. Staged at the Mejuah-Juah Park in Berastagi over four days, the festival was attended by thousands of people and offered a range of traditional art performances.

July 15

Solo Batik Carnival highlights Javanese culture’s glory days

The 10th edition of the Solo Batik Carnival was held on Jl. Slamet Riyadi in Surakarta, Central Java. Featuring 400 participants under the theme of Astamurti Kawijayan, the event allowed visitors to view a variety of rich traditional costumes adorned with flowers, birds, wayang and masks.

July 19

Parade unites culture and diversity through beauty, color

Thousands of people participated in the 12th Cultural Parade from Jl. Semeru to Gajayana Stadium in Malang, East Java. Each wore traditional costumes representing 90 different cities of the Indonesian archipelago.

Read also: Flashback 2017: Best in arts & culture - Part 1

AUGUST

Aug. 3

Tungguk Tembakau a tobacco harvest ritual with prayers

Tungguk Tembakau is a thanksgiving ceremony celebrated by residents of Senden village, in Boyolali regency, Central Java. Walking along village roads in traditional attire and parading piles of crops, local farmers participated in the ritual to welcome the harvest on the eastern slope of the Merapi-Merbabu mountain zone and express their gratitude to God Almighty for the tobacco they were going to gather.

Aug. 10 – Sept. 17

Jakarta hosts The World of Ghibli Jakarta exhibition

The World of Ghibli Jakarta exhibition was staged for the first time in Indonesia at the Ritz-Carlton, Pacific Place, in South Jakarta. Held as a tribute to the studio’s fans in Indonesia, the event presented many installations related to the studio’s films, which include Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Aug. 11-13

Art Stage Jakarta returns to the capital city

Contemporary art fair Art Stage Jakarta returned for its second instalment at Sheraton Grand Jakarta, Gandaria City Hotel in South Jakarta for three days. It presented local and international artworks from around 50 participating galleries.

Aug. 11-13

We The Fest: The musical hits and misses

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made headlines when he popped into visit the summer festival We The Fest. Wearing casual attire, the President seemed to enjoy Charli XCX’s performance. He also reportedly stayed for Shura and Kodaline’s sets.

Aug. 12

Six artists present stunning works at Museum MACAN

Six Indonesian and Chinese artists delivered remarkable performances at the First Sight event held at the country’s first world-class modern and contemporary art museum in November. Melati Suryodarmo, one of the artists, presented her Eins und Einds (One and One) show where she imagined herself as the embodiment of a disgruntled national full of oppression, aggression and violence.

Read also: Flashback 2017: Best in arts & culture - Part 1

Read also: Artists leave Instagram to sell art with heart

OCTOBER

Oct. 21-27

Jakarta Fashion Week 2018 celebrates diversity in 10th anniversary

Entering its 10th year, Jakarta Fashion Week 2018 made a point to celebrate diversity, with the annual festival adopting the theme of “Bhinneka dalam Berkarya” (diversity in creating).

Oct. 28-29

Pop culture fans flock to Indonesia Comic Con 2017

Held at the end of October, the third edition of Indonesia Comic Con returned to the capital city at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, South Jakarta. Pop-culture devotees of the city flocked to the event, especially cosplayers who donned costumes of their favorite characters. Among the special guests was American actor Jason David Frank who is known for his role as the original Green Ranger in the series Power Rangers.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 12

Joey Alexander: Bringing joy to all

Jazz pianist Joey Alexander, 14, returned home to Indonesia to end his Asian Tour at ICE BSD in South Tangerang, Banten, with a concert entitled as “A Night with a Million Imaginations.” To an audience of 2,500 people, Joey performed a number of compositions and songs, including Chrisye’s “Zamrud Khatulistiwa.”

Nov. 20-25

Photo exhibition highlights the importance of fatherhood

To celebrate National Father’s Day, which falls every Nov. 12, a photo exhibition at Bentara Budaya, Central Jakarta, was held over six days. Entitled “Ini Ayah Hebatku” (This is My Super Father), the exhibition focused on the importance of fatherhood by portraying moments between a father and his child.

Nov. 23 – Dec. 8

‘Run for Manhattan:’: Beyond an artistic statement

“Run for Manhattan” was a retrospective exhibition of works by the maestro of modern Balinese art, Made Wianta. Held in Jakarta, the exhibition’s title was not a pun, but a reference to Wianta’s line of creative expression before he suffered a stroke. 

Nov. 24 – Dec. 1

Surakarta marks Maulid Nabi Muhammad with traditional spectacle

Held to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, or Maulid Nabi Muhammad, the Sekaten ceremony began with performances from two sets of gamelan, the Kyai Guntur Madu and Kyai Guntur Sari, at the Kasunana Palace in Surakarta, Central Java.

Nov. 25

90s kids enjoy their time reliving the past

The 90s Festival, held at the JIExpo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, featured popular singers and bands from the 90s. Among the musical acts were rock band Dewa 19 with its original singer, Ari Lasso, pop band known for its naughty lyrics Potret, and pop singer admired for her humming technique Reza Artamevia.

Nov. 28-30

EKI Update 3.0: A noble effort to connect with the youth

Eksotika Karmawibhangga Indonesia (EKI) Dance Company’s latest event, EKI Update 3.0, aimed to bring audiences into the world of millennials. Held at the Jakarta Arts Building at Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, the event was special in that it was held in collaboration with the Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children (YPAC) Jakarta, members of which joined the performances.

Read also: Millennials learn the art of 'pantun'

DECEMBER

Dec. 3

Closure marks end of analog film projector era

Buaran Theater in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, which experienced the peak of its popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s, has been dismantled, ending the era of analog movie projection in Jakarta.

Dec. 10

Stories of survivors bring audience to tears, awareness

Staged at Goethe Haus, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Ode Tusuk Konde (An Ode to a Hair-pin Clip) powerfully gave voice to the pain and struggles of women and children who have experienced sexual abuse and systematic voice. It told the story of Kampung Jugun – a small, remote village that provides protection for women and children marginalized by society after becoming victims of violence.

Dec. 13

Rinaldy A. Yunardi takes on elements in new couture collection

Known internationally for his intricate accessories, Indonesian designer Rinaldy A. Yunardi presented a couture collection of 47 looks on the runway. The collections theme of “equilibrium,” he said, portrayed a balance of the elements.

Dec. 15-16

DWP 2017: 88 Rising glows as the dancefloor blows

Some of the best Asian hip-hop acts graced this year’s installment of Asia’s largest electronic music festival, Djakarta Warehouse Project. In its ninth year, the festival, organized by Ismaya Live, took the turn of expanding their lineup to extend beyond EDM and trance to answer the increasing demand for hip-hop music, which has been swiftly taking over dancefloors in Indonesia and the rest of the world. (wir/kes)

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