T

he Jakarta Biennale annual art festival, this year themed “Jakarta Maximum City: Survive or Escape”, is back in town, showcasing the works of 200 national and international artists, the event’s organizers said.

The 14th Jakarta Biennale, which officially started on July 29, and is organized by the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) in collaboration with the Jakarta Culture and Tourism Agency, reflects on a city it calls overloaded yet still attractive, and aims to portray its citizens as “creative beings” who find a way to survive the chaos.

This year’s event is different to previous ones as it also involves journalists. “We believe that art is present everywhere — in buildings, in city parks, and in other public places. We therefore are involving journalists in the event as the representatives of the public. Art shouldn’t be exclusive,” Aisul Yanto, head of the fine arts committee of the Jakarta Arts Council, said.

Jakarta Biennale 2011 executive director Renjani Damais said that the event “will take place at different places around the city, indoors and outdoors, such as in malls, city parks, villages, train stations, bus terminals, main roads around the city, art galleries, art centers, as well as the Jakarta art center Taman Ismail Marzuki [in Central Jakarta]”.

Renjani explained that various performances of music, theatre, dance and also films would be exhibited through November, when the exhibition was expected to reach its peak, until January next year.

The 2011 Jakarta Biennale centers on five sub themes — violence and resistance; narcissism, voyeurism, and the body; games, leisure, and gadget victims; metro-text seductions; and citizen and Homo Ludens.

“The event is also attempting to advocate freedom of religion and expression as well as the freedom to have a better life and freedom from fear,” said Robby, a member of the band Navicula from Bali, which will perform in the Biennale. (msa)