Arts

Indonesian Week 2024: A Slice of Culture in Beppu

The Nusantara Bulletin

3 days ago2 min read

Indonesian Week 2024: A Slice of Culture in Beppu

Did you know that in a quaint town on the southern coast of Japan, named Beppu, there’s a thriving community of Indonesian students? At...

From Passion to Possibility: Jakarta Doodle Fest’s Role in Artist Empowerment

The Nusantara Bulletin

Nov 32 min read

From Passion to Possibility: Jakarta Doodle Fest’s Role in Artist Empowerment

Jakarta Doodle Fest (JDF) is a celebration of visual arts ranging from animation and illustration to graphic design, with a unique...

Kancatala Ensemble Celebrates Fifth Anniversary with "Serangkai Harum Harmoni" Concert

The Nusantara Bulletin

Jul 302 min read

Kancatala Ensemble Celebrates Fifth Anniversary with "Serangkai Harum Harmoni" Concert

(Images courtesy of Saga Works/Kancatala Ensemble) The Kancatala Ensemble, a choir community with a mission to educate and promote choral...

Jazz in Paradise: The 2024 STHALA Ubud Village Jazz Festival

The Nusantara Bulletin

Jul 302 min read

Jazz in Paradise: The 2024 STHALA Ubud Village Jazz Festival

This August 2nd and 3rd, the 11th Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) will unfold at the picturesque STHALA Ubud Portfolio Hotel, marking a...

The Nusantara Bulletin

Jul 42 min read

Broadway Dreams for Papua’s Youth

In an industry where competition is cutthroat and opportunities can be scarce, Camp Broadway Indonesia (CBI) stands out as a beacon of...

Tari Gandrung: From Horror Stereotypes to TikTok Fame

Denisa Mayari

Jun 92 min read

Tari Gandrung: From Horror Stereotypes to TikTok Fame

(Image courtesy of Wonderful Indonesia) Gandrung is a beloved traditional dance from Banyuwangi, East Java, celebrated for its elegance...

Camp Broadway Indonesia: Cultivating Indonesian Talent on the Global Stage

The Nusantara Bulletin

May 122 min read

Camp Broadway Indonesia: Cultivating Indonesian Talent on the Global Stage

(Written by Rumaisha Ghina) The Indonesian youth never cease to proudly bring the name of Indonesia to the limelight, whether it be in...

Carnegie Calling Camp Broadway Indonesia Once Again

The Nusantara Bulletin

Jan 312 min read

Carnegie Calling Camp Broadway Indonesia Once Again

A new chapter is unfolding as young Indonesian talents eagerly prepare to step onto one of the world's most famous stages. Camp Broadway...

Understanding the Cultural Legacy of Sintang's Dayak Ikat

Fiadhira Rasyah

Jan 63 min read

Understanding the Cultural Legacy of Sintang's Dayak Ikat

It is truly fascinating to delve into the world of the forgotten Ikat weaving fabric and its profound significance in the cultural and...

Canines and Culture: The Balinese Metatah

Denisa Mayari

Dec 18, 20232 min read

Canines and Culture: The Balinese Metatah

Amidst the lush landscapes of Bali, where the energy of yoga enthusiasts collides with the aroma of artisanal avo toast and the beats of...

Modal Percoyo: Grab x Ndarboy Genk's Ojol Anthem

The Nusantara Bulletin

Dec 13, 20232 min read

Modal Percoyo: Grab x Ndarboy Genk's Ojol Anthem

In the lively realm of dangdut music, where infectious melodies often take center stage, there emerges a poignant narrative that...

Titimangsa Travels Through Time in “Sukabumi 1980”

The Nusantara Bulletin

Dec 11, 20232 min read

Titimangsa Travels Through Time in “Sukabumi 1980”

As the curtain fell on 2023, Titimangsa and the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation collaborated to weave a spellbinding cultural journey...

Fashion Maestro Edward Hutabarat Weaves Heritage in Paris

Denisa Mayari

Dec 8, 20232 min read

Fashion Maestro Edward Hutabarat Weaves Heritage in Paris

In the heart of Paris, at the iconic Carrousel du Louvre, an enchanting exhibition is currently whisking visitors away into the rich...

SGIFF 2023: Indonesia's Cinematic Triumph on the Global Stage

The Nusantara Bulletin

Dec 5, 20232 min read

SGIFF 2023: Indonesia's Cinematic Triumph on the Global Stage

At the 34th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Indonesia's storytelling embraces the international spotlight. It's not just...

Dangdut Koplo to Koplo Remix: A Musical Evolution

Fiadhira Rasyah

Nov 23, 20234 min read

Dangdut Koplo to Koplo Remix: A Musical Evolution

Twenty years ago, Dangdut Koplo was merely a simple regional music; today, this subgenre of Dangdut has grown to become one of the most...

Dancing with the Divine: Tarian Suling Dewa

Alvie Putri Gustiningrum

Nov 22, 20233 min read

Dancing with the Divine: Tarian Suling Dewa

(Image credits: luhusnulyakin.blogspot.com) Rain-summoning rituals not only serve as a means of survival in an agriculture-dependent...

The History and Development of Indonesian Films

Fiadhira Rasyah

Oct 18, 20234 min read

The History and Development of Indonesian Films

(Talbot, Indonesia's first ever cinema located in Tanah Abang) The first motion picture was introduced on December 5, 1900, in Batavia....

Arkananta Aliyya Wicaksono

Oct 7, 20234 min read

Beyond the Shadows: The Dalang's Story

From palace grounds to the heart of Indonesian society, wayang kulit, the ancient art of shadow puppetry, has woven itself into the very...

Auditory Memoirs of Indonesia: Listening to Kerontjong

Fiadhira Rasyah

Oct 6, 20234 min read

Auditory Memoirs of Indonesia: Listening to Kerontjong

(Insulinde kroncong group, formed by students from the Dutch East Indies in the Netherlands, circa 1942 [Source: @potretlawas on...

Perception of Time and The Artistic Expression of the Ancient Javanese Through Sengkalan Memet

Nabil Alghifari

Sep 23, 20234 min read

Perception of Time and The Artistic Expression of the Ancient Javanese Through Sengkalan Memet

Image credits: Sengkalan in Tugu Pusaka Selogiri by Muhammad Faiz, 2023. (https://www.instagram.com/p/CuWtCh-r7-R/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=...

Sembogo: Bridal Beauty Enhanced with Smoke

Denisa Mayari

Sep 14, 20232 min read

Sembogo: Bridal Beauty Enhanced with Smoke

(All images are courtesy of @ilalangportraiture). On the island of Java and in the surrounding regions, the religious and spiritual...

Ondel-Ondel, Betawi’s Sacred Great Puppet

Nabil Alghifari

Jul 20, 20233 min read

Ondel-Ondel, Betawi’s Sacred Great Puppet

(Image by Pleyte, C.M. - http://hdl.handle.net/1887.1/item:790559, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=104990875)...

Behind Our Childhood Drawings: Mooi Indie

Fiadhira Rasyah

Jul 8, 20234 min read

Behind Our Childhood Drawings: Mooi Indie

Fig.1 Abdullah Suriosubroto, Pemandangan di sekitar Gunung Merapi. 1900-1930, Koleksi Lukisan Istana Presiden Soekarno. Fig. 2 Source:...

Syiva Zahra

Jul 5, 20234 min read

The Enthralling Kecak

Bali is home to hundreds of captivating traditional dances and musicals. The Balinese dance and music performance known as Kecak first...

Indonesia’s Bas-Relief: Carved Chronicles of Culture

Denisa Mayari

Jun 28, 20234 min read

Indonesia’s Bas-Relief: Carved Chronicles of Culture

Indonesia's cultural and artistic wealth reveals itself like a hidden treasure, unfurling a captivating tapestry of bas-relief sculptures...

Salim: Honoring the Hands that Guided Us

Denisa Mayari

Jun 5, 20233 min read

Salim: Honoring the Hands that Guided Us

In the vibrant and diverse mosaic of Indonesian culture, a time-honored tradition known as salim weaves a captivating tale of respect and...

Syiva Zahra

May 17, 20234 min read

Spellbinding Soundscape of the Gamelan

It is no secret that Indonesia boasts spectacular traditional music, particularly the mesmerizing and enchanting sounds of gamelan, a...

Unearthing the Complexities of Life, Love, and Colonialism in 19th Century Java

Denisa Mayari

Apr 14, 20233 min read

Unearthing the Complexities of Life, Love, and Colonialism in 19th Century Java

Arguably one of the most famous literary works in our nation’s history, Pramoedya Ananta Toer's This Earth of Mankind (Bumi Manusia) is...

Fahombo Batu: Nias Boys' Proud Show of Strength and Courage

Denisa Mayari

Apr 9, 20233 min read

Fahombo Batu: Nias Boys' Proud Show of Strength and Courage

The island of Nias, off the western coast of Sumatra, is a haven where time seems to have stood still and the Nias people have fiercely...

Empowering Young Artists of Bali Through Ogoh-Ogoh

Alyssa Rosvita

Mar 30, 20232 min read

Empowering Young Artists of Bali Through Ogoh-Ogoh

A day before the sacred day of silence, Nyepi, hand-made giant statues resembling scary beings fill up the streets of Bali. Accompanied...

The Decline of Women’s Traditional Fashion

Alyssa Rosvita

Mar 25, 20232 min read

The Decline of Women’s Traditional Fashion

Indonesia is a diverse country made up of thousands of ethnic groups, each with their own unique culture, customs, and traditions. With...

Alyssa Rosvita

Mar 10, 20232 min read

Surat Batak, a Fading Script

With most of its authentic history and origins lost to time, surat Batak is slowly becoming a forgotten script. Despite it being used to...

The Illustrious and Intricate Art of Legong

Syiva Zahra

Mar 7, 20233 min read

The Illustrious and Intricate Art of Legong

(Photo by Cornelius Louis André Roosevelt, 1928) Bali is known not only for its beautiful nature and tranquil atmosphere, but also for...

Dance of the Divinity: The Bedhaya Ketawang

Denisa Mayari

Feb 27, 20233 min read

Dance of the Divinity: The Bedhaya Ketawang

(Pandji, S. Bedhoyo Ketawang. 2006, Oil on Canvas) Bedhaya Ketawang is a dance form that has deep cultural and historical roots in Java,...

Saman: Perfect Harmonization of a Hundred Hands

Syiva Zahra

Jan 29, 20233 min read

Saman: Perfect Harmonization of a Hundred Hands

(Image credits: Zuhri Noviandi via Kumparan) Indonesians associate Saman dance with powerful body movements and melodious singing. The...

Raden Saleh's Retelling of The Truth: The Arrest of Pangeran Diponegoro

Alyssa Rosvita

Jan 15, 20234 min read

Raden Saleh's Retelling of The Truth: The Arrest of Pangeran Diponegoro

A pioneer of modern art in Indonesia, Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman is rightly considered one of the country's most prominent artists.