INCULS, or the Institute of Culture and Language Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada, together with Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) Malaysia and GENIUS Seni Tari (Permata Seni) from Malaysia are organising a collaborative programme from 28 August to 2 September 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The programme was created by the Malaysian Ministry of Education as a work programme in the field of arts development on an international scale.

The aim of the programme is to create a platform for cultural exchange and collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia, specifically in the field of arts and culture. Through this programme, participants will have the opportunity to work together on artistic projects, learn from one another and improve their proficiency in the arts. They will also be exposed to the comparative study of arts programme governance at the international level.

The programme is expected to be attended by 18 educators and ministry employees from JKKN, 15 participants from Malaysia, as well as BSO Rampoe UGM and Sastra Oebah. During the programme, the dance GENIUS team will practise two dances with BSO Rampoe UGM and Sastra Oebah. Meanwhile, staff and educators from JKKN will attend workshops with Dr Wulan Tri Astuti and Dr Arsanti Wulandari.

Overall, the Malaysia-Indonesia Serumpun Arts Integration 2023 programme is a great opportunity for participants to learn about different cultures, collaborate on artistic projects, and gain a better understanding of arts programme governance on an international level. It is a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration and the importance of promoting the arts in our global society.

The programme was closed with a beautiful event featuring dances. The GENIUS Seni Tari (Permata Seni) team performed a Malaysian contemporary dance, Kesah Berai. In addition, they also performed the results of the workshop, namely Angkrek Dance from Yogyakarta and Likok Pulo Dance from Aceh. Rampoe UGM was no less impressive, performing the Ratoeh Pukat and Sastro Obah Dance as well as the Nirbaya Edan-Edanan Dance which is full of Indonesian cultural meanings.

This article is based on Selapanan Talks #1

What do we really want?

That’s the big question uttered by the first speaker, Rudy Wiratama S.IP, M.A. as he opened the talk.

The discussion threw us into a deep contemplation about the notion of “home” and how it relates to our own personal desires. As we delved deeper into the topic, data on mental illness and suicide cases emerged, and we couldn’t help but wonder what is really going on in our society today.

To borrow Ranggawarsita’s term, we are living in the age of uncertainty, the age of doubt, also known as Kalulun Kalatidha. In such times, it becomes even more important for each one of us to be the first to convince ourselves of our own desires and to have a clear understanding of what we truly want in life.

Our second speaker, Salma Dias, shed light on how the social media universe has a significant impact on shaping our desires. Everything we want, everything we aspire to, is plastered all over the explore menu and timeline on our social media feed. However, sometimes we are blind to the fact that we might not really need what we want.

Through his presentation, our speaker Rudy Wiratama emphasized the point of self-control on the soul, as highlighted by Ki Ageng Suryomentaram. It is the soul that has a vital role in controlling our desires. But the question that arises is, how do we do it? How do we balance the influence of society and our own personal desires to achieve true fulfillment in life?

There are at least 4 stages to controlling our will:

1. Heneng (Silence for a moment)
2. Hening (Evaluate)
3. Awas (Identifying weaknesses)
4. Eling (Judging objectively & free from its demands)

In addition to the 4 points above, Salma Diah also added about the importance of hiatus from social media. This can be done by taking a break from social media for a certain amount of time. In addition, we also need to be fully focused when doing other activities. A simple example that we can do is to not bring our mobile phones while eating & sleeping.

If the above methods can be taken, then it is less likely that we will continue to be distracted by momentary desires.

Nevertheless, we can point back the question to ourself.

What do we really want?

At the initiative of Chinese Testing International Co. (CTI), which is under the authorisation of Chinese Language and Education Center (CLEC), together with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Beijing, will launch 6 Chinese Language and Innovation Center (CLIC) in Indonesia on 9 September 2023. CTI is a pioneer and leader in the TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) industry, with a rich history of providing high-quality testing services to a wide range of industries.

The establishment of the CLICs in Indonesia is a significant milestone for CTI, as it expands its reach and helps to promote the Chinese language and culture to a wider audience. The CLICs will provide a range of innovative and interactive Chinese language programs and cultural activities to students and professionals in Indonesia, helping to bridge the gap between China and Indonesia and fostering greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the CLICs in Indonesia that will be launched are in four provinces, namely West Java, DKI Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and East Java. In West Java, CLIC will be managed by Padjadjaran University, a leading public university known for its excellence in research and education. In Jakarta, Pancasila University and the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) Institute will be in charge, providing quality education and training in communication, media, and public relations. In Yogyakarta, CLIC will be operated by Gadjah Mada University and Yogyakarta State University, two of the most prestigious universities in Indonesia, known for their strong academic programs and contributions to the development of the country. While in East Java, CLIC will be managed by Ciputra University, a private university that is committed to excellence in education and innovation.

The MoU signing between CTI and each of the CLIC universities will take place online on 9 September 2023, marking the official launch of the CLICs in Indonesia. In the event, CTI will be represented by CTI Chairman and CEO: Dr Li Peize, a respected leader in the TIC industry with extensive experience in international business and cross-cultural communication. CLIC Indonesia will be represented by leaders from Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Pancasila, Institut London School of Public Relation, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, and Universitas Ciputra, who will share their vision and commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia.

The event will be opened by Mr Ma JianFei, Director General of CLEC, who will highlight the importance of promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia, and the role that CLICs will play in achieving this goal. This will be followed by remarks from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia in Beijing, His Excellency Mr Djauhari Oratmangun, who will express his appreciation for the establishment of CLICs in Indonesia and the benefits it will bring to the people of Indonesia. Representatives of universities in Indonesia that host CLIC will also share their thoughts on the significance of the establishment of CLICs and their commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia.

Next, there will be an online signing of the MoU and display of the agreement, symbolizing the official partnership between CTI and each of the CLIC universities in Indonesia. The event will be closed with a group photo session, marking the beginning of a new era of cooperation and partnership between China and Indonesia.

As a sign that CLIC is an official institution, CTI will hand over the same CLIC plaque that has been handed over in other countries, such as Singapore, USA, UK, Canada, Norway, Mexico, and Germany. This plaque represents the commitment of CTI and the CLIC universities to promoting Chinese language and culture around the world, and the importance of fostering greater understanding and cooperation between nations.The plaque will be presented in person in October 2023 in Jakarta.

Rampoe UGM, a dance community based on Aceh culture under the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has once again brought pride to Indonesia with their remarkable achievements in the international arena. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Rampoe UGM team managed to participate in the prestigious “International Troya Folk Dance and Music Festival” held in Canakkale, Turkey from 2-6 July 2023, and the “Asia Art Festival” competition in Singapore from 11-15 July 2023.

In the “International Trojan Folk Dance and Music Festival”, Rampoe UGM was the only team representing Indonesia. The festival was held in the heart of Canakkale city and was attended by around 2,000 spectators, including high-ranking officials such as the mayor of Canakkale. The UGM Rampoe Team performed two dances, namely Ratoeh Pukat and Rapai Geleng-Meusaresare Medley. Despite the city not being familiar with Indonesian culture, the UGM Rampoe Team managed to showcase Indonesia’s rich identity and culture to the world, and their performance was recognised as the Best Performance in both performances.

This remarkable achievement was not limited to Turkey as the UGM Rampoe Team travelled to Singapore to participate in the “Asia Art Festival 2023”. In the competition, the team managed to win gold and was invited to perform at the Gala as Best Folk Dance Category, showcasing their magnificent performance of the Ratoeh Pukat dance.

The success of this diplomatic mission was made possible with the support of Mr Haidar Alwi, President of the Haidar Alwi Institute, and the sponsorship from Taman Sriwedari Solo. With the unwavering support of their sponsors, the UGM Rampoe Team has continued to make significant contributions to the international arena since 2010. It is worth noting that Rampoe UGM has already made remarkable achievements in France, Belgium, Spain, Taiwan, Malaysia, Czech Republic, and South Korea.

Overall, the successes of Rampoe UGM in Turkey and Singapore demonstrate Indonesia’s rich cultural identity, and the team’s fantastic performance serves as a testament to their dedication, hard work, and talent. We are proud of the UGM Rampoe Team and their achievements, and we look forward to their continued success in the future.

On August 25th, 2023, the Kagama Poetry Reading Community (KAPOETREN) organized a special event in collaboration with two other communities – the “Melati Rinonce” community of women Javanese poetry writers and the “Nyareng Boenga Ketjil” community. The event took place at the UGM Museum, Bulaksumur Blok D6-D7, and was aimed at commemorating the 78th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as promoting literature and poetry. The main highlight of the event was the launching of a collection of geguritan or Javanese poetry titled “Nyareng 2”. About 30 people from the three communities attended the event, and there was also a special guest appearance from the “Lincak” Community, whose members are students of the Faculty of Arts UGM. Overall, it was an insightful and enriching event that brought together like-minded individuals who share a passion for literature and poetry.

Fifteen talented poets graced the event with their evocative poetry readings, transporting the audience to a world of emotions. These poets hailed from various cities including Jombang, Sragen, Pacitan, Magelang, Semarang, and more, adding to the diversity of the event. The performances were not limited to traditional geguritan, as some poets presented their works in both Indonesian and English, showcasing their versatility and proficiency.

During the book launching session of “Nyareng 2”, one of the initiators of “Nyareng Boenga Ketjil” community, Didik Eros Sudarjono, expressed his frustration on the scarcity of Javanese-language poetry anthologies compared to Indonesian-language poetry. He traveled all the way from Jombang to attend the event. Sudarjono and his friends in the “Nyareng Boenga Ketjil” community are committed to preserving Javanese traditions and take this responsibility seriously.

It is interesting to note that Didik Eros Sudarjono, one of the initiators of Nyareng Boenga Ketjil, traveled all the way from Jombang to attend the book launching session of “Nyareng 2”. During the session, he expressed his frustration over the scarcity of Javanese-language poetry anthologies as compared to Indonesian-language poetry. To preserve Javanese traditions, he and his friends from the “Nyareng Boenga Ketjil” community are fully committed and serious.

Novi commends two Javanese tradition-focused communities, “Melati Rinonce” and “Nyareng Boenga Ketjil”. She specifically praises the latter for publishing two geguritan anthologies.

“This is a source of inspiration for us. KAPOETREN plans to publish an anthology of poetry specifically by members of our community,” Novi concluded.