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This exhibition doubles as a reunion for four artists who have been friends since their college years in the 1980s. But, this is no regular reunion. Instead it is a joint painting exhibition featuring the works of four artists - Eko Triwayono, Ade Ebo, Sapto Aji and Totok Basuki - who call themselves EAST.

Their works are ruminations on the meaning of life and some of its basic elements; power, violence, hope and arrogance. They don't try to bring up all the subjects the way the mass media does, but touch on the larger theme of humanity. Eko, for example, makes a satirical comment about human relations that easily cause tension. Theses works, and others billed "Cosmopolite" are on display at Philo Art Space in East Kemang, South Jakarta, from April 14 to April 28.

Philo Art Space

Jl. Kemang Timur 90 C South Jakarta 12730

Tel: (021) 719 84 48

play

Writer Remy Sylado gained his notoriety in the early 1970s - aside from his scathing music criticism - for his promotion of subversive poetry. He retreated from the limelight in the mid 1980s but continued on writing fiction, short stories, plays and novels. Jalan Tamblong is a five-part play written by Sylado in the 1970s that was staged in that period. Jalan Tamblong is Remy's quintessential work in which he draws both on the traditional East Javanese comedy play Ludruk and idioms from Western theater. Remy decided to stage the play once again for a two-night performance at the Jakarta Art House, starting on April 21. Veteran actors Renny Djajoesman, Jose Rizal Manua and Semmy Patty have joined the cast for the play. Tickets are available for Rp 50,000 and Rp 75,000.

Jakarta Art House

Jl. Gedung Kesenian 1 Jakarta 10710, Indonesia

Tel: (021)3808283-3441892

gig

Tohpati Ario Utomo is among a small number of jazz-leaning guitarists who have achieved a rare crossover success in Indonesia's pop scene. Tohpati solo may not have sold hundreds of thousands records, but he has a constant presence in the pop scene. His sublime guitar plucking has adorned a large number of releases - from some of Indonesia's leading performers including Kris Dayanti and Titi D.J. to Melly Goeslaw. In spite of his mainstream success, Tohpati's heart lies in the jazz and fusion scene. Tohpati's latest project, "Ethnomission", is his further exploration in the realm of jazz. This time he goes deep into the realms of ethnic music by exploring some obscure traditional instruments and tries to play them diatonically. Tohpati is expected to bring his experiment to the Bentara Budaya art center on April 22. The gig starts at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Bentara Budaya Jakarta

Jl. Palmerah Selatan 17, Jakarta 10270.

Tel : (021) 548 3008

movies

Bored with Hollywood? It is time to get a new perspective of the world as seen by French directors. To expand your movie horizon, the French Cultural Center (CCF) is holding the French Film Festival that will hold screenings of among others D*lice Paloma, Faubourg 36 and Je crois que je l'aime. In Jakarta the film festival will wrap up on April 25.

The festival will screen a total of 20 films at Platinum XXI fX Plaza and Blitz Megaplex Grand Indonesia. Tickets are available for Rp 15,000 (US$1.50) per film and are available at Enrique Indonesia, Lycee International Francais, CCF Salemba, CCF Wijaya and at the box office.