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Looking back, looking ahead: A year in reflection

Eko Nugroho - JP/DONAs 2015 comes to an end, it is the time of the year when people not only look forward to new adventures for the next 12 months, but also when we look back and remember the challenges and accomplishments of the past year

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Sun, January 3, 2016

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Looking back, looking ahead: A year in reflection

Eko Nugroho - JP/DON

As 2015 comes to an end, it is the time of the year when people not only look forward to new adventures for the next 12 months, but also when we look back and remember the challenges and accomplishments of the past year.

ISYANA SARASVATI

Singer: '€œI am so grateful because I never expected to accomplish so many things this year. Thank God, I have realized that my biggest dream is to launch my debut album EXPLORE!. Exceeding my expectations, my work has received a positive response from many listeners in Indonesia.

I have lots of resolutions for 2016. Among them, starting to exercise regularly and be healthier. I want to keep creating [music] and remain productive. By doing these things, I hopefully can provide some inspiration to the younger generation.'€

EKA KURNIAWAN


Author:
'€œFor me, it has definitely been a good year. This year, I published a collection of short stories. I saw the English version of my first novel [Cantik itu Luka or Beauty Is a Wound] published in the US with a favorable response.

My second novel Lelaki Harimau [Tiger Man] was published in four different languages almost at the same time. That excludes the new agreement to publish those novels in more than 15 languages.

I want to publish my fourth novel, O, on schedule and exercise more.'€

TEX SAVERIO


Designer:
'€œI had the chance to learn a lot about myself this year. I have learned to make more careful decisions. I have also learned about what I really want. I wish I'€™d done some things differently, but in the end, I learned from the mistakes. Hopefully I can be better in the coming years.

I'€™m so excited about next year because I'€™m going to have my first solo fashion show. Many people have been asking me to make something dramatic again and in that solo show, I want to showcase the '€œcrazy'€ side of my designs.'€

Tex Saverio - JP
Tex Saverio - JP

EKO NUGROHO

Contemporary Artist: '€œThis year saw significant progress in my journey as an artist. All targets seem to have been met.

I was involved in many projects and my exhibitions at the Frankfurt Book Fair and in Australia were quite challenging for me and my team. But we worked hard and I'€™m so proud of my team this year. And with my wife and two kids by my side supporting me, this year has been amazing.'€

For me the New Year means new challenges. No matter how prepared we are for the future, we can never guess what'€™s ahead of us. The New Year also means surprises, and with surprises, our life becomes interesting. I'€™m optimistic for 2016 as I believe next year will be a fresh and a strong year for Indonesia'€™s art scene and many young artists will introduce Indonesia further to the world.'€

LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK


Author: '€œAs with any year, 2015 has had its ups and downs for me. But the publication of my novel [Amba or The Question of Red] in Germany and Holland were obvious highlights.

Finding my novel on the Top 8/Top 10 Lists of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one of the most prestigious papers in Europe, as well as the ORF Kultur Besten Liste and The Bild was simply wonderful '€” not to mention being No. 1 on the Weltempfaenger (Receivers of the Word) List as Best Work of Fiction from outside Germany that has been translated into German. This is a huge honor for me, especially because the list is judged by respected German literary critics and authors.

The English version of Amba, which until now was published in limited editions in Indonesia '€” will be published in the US next year; so will my second novel, Aruna dan Lidahnya [Aruna and Her Palate].

Right now I am working on my third novel, for which I have received a stipend from a consortium of British universities, and another from the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, a renowned hub for German literature, where I am currently doing my residency.'€

Laksmi Pamuntjak - JP
Laksmi Pamuntjak - JP

JOKO ANWAR


Director: '€œThis year is a usual one for me. A Copy of My Mind [which received its world premiere at 72nd Venice International Film Festival and won Citra Award for Best Director] will premiere in Indonesia on Feb. 11.

Next year, I want to be more productive by making two films a year. I am preparing the production of A Copy of My Soul, the second part of the A Copy of My Mind trilogy. There are also two more projects, the comedy-drama The Last Wedding on Earth and the action thriller Eksekutor.'€

PANDJI PRAGIWAKSONO

Comedian and Hip-hop Artist:
'€œMy highlight [this year] was definitely my success in launching my first standup comedy world tour.

As a hip-hop artist, I also managed to complete my first nation-wide solo hip-hop tour in Indonesia. No hip-hop artist in Indonesia had ever done this before.

My management and I agree that while 2015 was the year for me to create work and introduce my work to the public, 2016 will be the year where we make money. I will have another standup comedy world tour that will be even bigger than before. I will deliver new material and I will cover more cities and continents, including Africa, in the upcoming tour.'€

JENNY JUSUF

Award-winning Scriptwriter: '€œMy highlight in 2015 was definitely winning the Citra Award for best script adaptation for a film. Other highlights included being heralded as the best scriptwriter during the Bandung Film Festival and receiving a nomination for Best Script Adaptation for the 2015 Maya Award.

I never thought I would reach this level of success in my career because I once doubted whether I could be a feature film scriptwriter. My process of writing the script for the Filosofi Kopi movie was a long one. I started research near the end of 2011 and shooting began at the end of 2014. During that long period of writing, I thought perhaps I was not destined to become a feature film writer but Alhamdullilah (praise God), I finally managed to complete the script.

My dream for 2016 is to travel the world while continuing to produce work. I also want to learn scriptwriting in the US. I have no particular ambitions regarding awards. If possible, I want to stay from ambition. I do not want to be driven by ambition because it stresses me out.'€

PAULA VERHOEVEN


Model: '€œEach year has special meaning for me. I don'€™t have any regret for the things I'€™ve done and I'€™m very grateful for what I'€™ve been through this year. I got the chance to be involved in the Supernova film last year, and this year, I'€™ve been entrusted to become a mentor in the beauty contest Cantik Indonesia. Sharing my experience and knowledge with other people is great.'€

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