Transform your week into an Indonesian getaway, complete with clubs, markets, art, crafts and delicious Indonesian cuisine. Festival Nusantara
will bring Indonesia to your doorstep as Brisbane Powerhouse opens its
doors to artists, photographers, chefs, academics, musicians and
Indonesian associations from 8 – 12 August.
Fill the calendar week with activities and events celebrating exotic
Indonesian culture. Experience a slice of contemporary Indonesia right
here in Brisbane!
The free activities begin with Salam Budaya Kawula Mada (Cultural Day
for Young People) on 9 August. Brisbane Powerhouse and the Modern
Language Teachers’ Association invite students throughout Southeast
Queensland to immerse themselves in Indonesian arts and culture through
a series of hands on, interactive workshops by Indonesian guest
artists. Students can sample food, attend an artist talk by
photographers featured in the Mata Hati exhibition, decorate an umbul
umbul (bamboo banner) and see a special performance by West Sumatran
company, Nan Jombang Dance.
For those more inclined to lounging and indulging, visit Klub Keroncong
Nusantara (KKN) on August 10 and experience the unique sounds which
will surely transport you back to a fascinating era of old-fashioned
Indonesian folk music. From the Keroncong anthems of independence
(traditional folk music deriving from Portugal), to the contemporary
rhythms of Dangdut (Indonesian Bollywood), enjoy Indonesian food and
drink as you take a sentimental journey through musical history.
To celebrate history, on 12 August, the Indonesian Student’s
Association and Indonesian Society Queensland welcome the Brisbane
community to the 62nd Indonesian Independence Day, Pesta Rakyat
(People’s Party). Throughout the day there will be free performances
on the Turbine Platform featuring groups from the local community. Get
involved in the traditional games, paint your own umbul umbul (Balinese
flag) and plant it on the Powerhouse lawn, fly a kite and tuck into
some tasty Indonesian cuisine. This is a day for everyone to come along
and enjoy what Indonesia has to offer.
The offerings continue on 12 August with Brisbane Powerhouse hosting
Obrolan Sama Tetangga (Conversations with the Neighbour). Many
Australians know little about Indonesia’s people, history and
present-day situation and there has never been a more important time to
talk. Audiences will have their say, joining a range of leading
academics, thinkers and social commentators from Australia and
Indonesia as they discuss social, political and spiritual perceptions
of each nation. What does the future hold for Indonesia and Australia?
Director Andrew Ross sees Festival Nusantara as an opportunity to
experience rare events that you wouldn’t discover as a tourist in the
country. “In Indonesia I always seek out the popular music and theatre
that the ordinary people go to. It includes karaoke in a variety of
local languages, dangdut clubs and my favourite old fashion keroncong,
which is featured twice a week in the Elmi Hotel in Surabaya. The
hotel also serves great food,” he says. “We have put together events
like Klub Keroncong Nusantara (KKN) as a bit of a potted history of
popular Indonesian music. Listening to this sort of music in a setting
like this is an experience few tourists rarely encounter. KKN (the
name is an Indonesian in joke, since KKN stood for the Korupsi, Kolusi
and Nepotisma of the Suharto era) is a uniquely Indonesian experience. I think it is a beautiful way to spend an evening.”
Brisbane Powerhouse presents
FESTIVAL NUSANTARA FREE EVENTS
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse
Dates: Wed 8 – Sun 12 August
Tickets: FREE
More Info: 3358 8600 or www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
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