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National Cultural Week 2020 to feature exhibitions on Affandi, Prince Diponegoro
Held mostly virtually, the 2020 National Culture Week aims to provide space for the public to express their creative sides and drive the cultural-economy sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The National Museum of Indonesia in Central Jakarta on April 24, 2016. The museum will be the venue for 'Pamor sang Pangeran' exhibition from Oct. 28 to Nov. 26. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)
The 2020 National Cultural Week is set to be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30, mostly in an online format.
The annual event, organized by the Education and Culture Ministry’s Culture Directorate General, will feature 4,791 artists, 27 conferences, 93 performances, five virtual competitions, 16 workshops and five exhibitions.
Among the exhibitions that should not be missed is Alam Ruang Manusia (Human Space Realm) where people can enter the realm of maestro Affandi’s paintings through an immersive audio-visual experience, including by using video mapping projection. The paintings, produced in the 1940s to 1970s, are divided into three main themes, namely nature, space and human. The exhibition will take place at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Central Jakarta, from Oct. 27 to Nov. 25 under strict health protocols. People can register online to attend the exhibition for free.
Born in West Java's Cirebon in 1907, Affandi was known for his unique technique where he painted directly on canvas using his fingers. His works were also recognized as the “new expressionism”.
Another virtual exhibition worth “visiting” is Pamor Sang Pangeran (The Prince's Prestige) that will highlight the life of national hero Prince Diponegoro. The eldest son of the Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono II, he led a five-year campaign against Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century.
Aiming to entice the younger generation, the exhibition will feature a storytelling concept, video mapping and comics to narrate Prince Diponegoro’s life. Visitors will be able to watch the animated film Diponegoro 1830 that follows his journey from his arrest on March 28, 1830 in Central Java's Magelang to his exile on May 3, 1830 in North Sulawesi's Manado. Curated by British historian Peter Carey and curator Nusi Lisabilla Estudiantin, Pamor Sang Pameran will also display sketches and paintings of the prince from 1807 to 2019; the prince’s heirlooms; and an autobiographical chronicle of the prince, Babad Diponegoro.
Pamor sang Pameran will be held from Oct. 28 to Nov. 26 at the National Museum of Indonesia, Central Jakarta. People have to register online prior to visiting the exhibition.
Alongside the exhibitions, the event will also hold conferences in five formats, namely open class, cultural dialogue, panel discussion, workshop and pitching forum. Among the speakers who will be present at the conferences are Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim, filmmaker Riri Riza, chief editor of Historia magazine Bonnie Triyana, head of the Association of Indonesian Doctors for the Development of Traditional and Herbal Medicines (PDPOTJI) Inggrid Tania and Indonesian culinary expert William Wongso.
This year’s National Cultural Week will also feature around 500 performers and artists, including dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok, legendary singer Ebiet G. Ade, celebrated dalang (puppet master) Ki Manteb Soedharsono, dangdut superstar Rhoma Irama, renowned rock band God Bless and choreographer-dancer Eko Supriyanto.
Initiated in 2019, the National Cultural Week is a realization of the Cultural Congress Resolution. Its first instalment was held from Oct. 7 to 11, 2019 at Istora Senayan, Central Jakarta, attracting around 250,000 visitors. (wng)
