Tourism in Indonesia is an important component of the Indonesian economy and an important source of foreign exchange revenues. With a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, the second longest shoreline in the world, 300 different ethnic groups and 250 distinct languages,and tropical climate throughout the year, nature and culture are two major components of Indonesian tourism.

11/10/07

Art Summit gets off to delicious start

The 2007 Art Summit Indonesia kicked off Thursday night at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta with French chocolates floating through the air in gift boxes on the end of green balloons.

These were no ordinary chocolates and balloons, but a culinary installation called Le Buffete Flottan (Floating Buffet) that combined gastronomy and art.

The piece by La Cellule troupe's Emmanuelle Becquemine and Stephanie Sagot greeted visitors to the Graha Bhakti Budaya building in the art center complex in Cikini.

"The idea is a reflection about a buffet. We just want to create something different," said Becquemine.

When people take the chocolate gift box, the balloon will fly away, said the 31-year-old artist.

The same installation has been seen in Japan and France. After the Jakarta show, the troupe plans to showcase the piece in Yogyakarta.

The installation was an alluring opening act, tempting Jakartans craving art and culture.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik officially opened the Art Summit.

"With culture we can develop brotherhood and partnership between countries," he said.

Wacik said the promotion of art and culture was the responsibility of the entire government.

He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu were both very active in this area.

"We're now looking at a culture and art industry," he said.

Wacik said events like the Art Summit would show the rest of the world that Indonesia is an important cultural center.

Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu also attended the opening ceremony, saying it was time for the country to "create a market for its culture and arts".

The last Art Summit in 2004 featured 15 performing artists from 10 countries and 25 visual artists from six countries.

The event is held every three years. Fifteen groups from nine countries participated in the first ASI in 1995. In 1998 there were 15 groups from eight countries, and three years later the event drew 17 groups from 10 countries.

A modern wayang listrik (electric puppet) performance by one of Bali's most accomplished puppet masters, I Made Sidia, concluded the opening ceremony.

Sidia is scheduled to perform Friday at Graha Bhakti Budaya in the Taman Ismail Marzuki complex.
Source: Thejakartapost.com
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