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JILF brings new dawn for Jakarta’s literary scene
Art of writing: A visitor reads a display at the 2019 Jakarta International Literary Festival at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts and cultural center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday
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rt of writing: A visitor reads a display at the 2019 Jakarta International Literary Festival at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts and cultural center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.(JP/ Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak)
The first-ever Jakarta International Literary Festival (JILF) kicked off on Tuesday at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural center, ushering in a new hope for the literary scene in the capital.
Initiated by the Literary Committee of the Jakarta Arts Council, JILF features scores of prominent Asian and African authors — like Palestinian Adania Shibli, Turk Bejan Matur, Botswanan Legodile Seganabeng and Cypriot Stephanos Stephanides.
Some established names in the Indonesian literary scene — including Budi Darma, Nirwan Dewanto and M. Aan Mansyur — are scheduled to participate in the five-day festival.
Under the theme of Pagar (Fences), the festival aims at breaking biases in literature.
Celebrated author and JILF curator Eka Kurniawan said that the world, even the literary world, was put in fractions with borders that not only separated entities but also created a class gap.
“We can’t turn a blind eye to the hegemony of European-American literature. We are familiar with their works but it’s not mutual.
“Worse, we stutter when we talk about writers from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia,” argued Eka, who curated JILF alongside Yusi Avianto Pareanom and Isyana Artharini.
Eka said that in the local scene, the fences were seen in how heteronormative Indonesian literature left no room for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) literature or works from the eastern part of the country.
In the lead up to its inauguration, JILF has built the public’s excitement by holding a number of discussions and workshops in various places across the capital.
Some JILF participants expressed their optimism about the festival and its future.
Faris, who attended JILF’s workshop on literary agents, said the workshop was an eye-opener for him as he gained knowledge on selling books at international fairs.
“I think the JILF is very significant, because it opens doors for many youngsters who would like to delve deeper into the literary scene, where we can learn from those who have been in the field for a long time,” Faris said, adding that some of his friends who are interested in joining JILF were turned down because of limited space.
Indonesia is home to some established international literary festivals, such as Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) in Bali and Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) in South Sulawesi.
As the first international literary festival backed by the Jakarta administration, the JILF hopes to put Jakarta on the map as a vibrant literary scene.
Eka said the festival was open to everyone, including those who did not consider themselves to be avid readers.
“If someone comes to the JILF tomorrow just to watch the music concert program, for example, nothing is wrong with that. Once they were there, they would be exposed to books, discussions on literature and writers. Sooner or later, they would be familiar with literature.”
Just days before the JILF’s opening, poet and essayist Goenawan Mohamad shared a Facebook post, expressing his skepticism of international-level literary festivals.
“Indeed it shows how lively literary activities are. But for me, what’s more urgent and important is to have literary education back to school and the revival of literary reviews,” wrote Goenawan, who chaired the Indonesian committee at the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair.
Acknowledging the lack of public reviews of literary works and lack of education in schools, Eka suggested festivals as an alternative.
“It can be the means to provide literary education not through a school, and at the same time reviving a dialog of ideas without having to publish a literary magazine or journal. I believe many things can be achieved through festivals.”
Writer Feby Indirani corroborated Eka’s opinion, saying that festivals had helped spur collaborative works and the exchange of ideas among writers.
“Goenawan was right when he criticized how poor our literary conversation is due to the lack of reviews and literary education in school. But I don’t vouch for an ‘either or’ way of thinking, eliminating one to create another one,” she told The Jakarta Post.
