In May I came to Indonesia to investigate the country’s literary landscape in an effort to bring the Asia Pacific Writers and Translators’ annual event to Jakarta in 2017. Yet, I returned to Melbourne with far more than connections to run next year’s event. As someone who knew very little about … [Read more...]
‘17,000 islands of imagination’: discovering Indonesian literature
July 4, 2016 by
It’s the fourth most populous country in the world, yet it is rare to find an English translation of Indonesian literature that doesn’t focus on war or tsunamis. Why, asks Louise Doughty. In February last year, I was sitting in Cafe Batavia on Fatahillah Square in Jakarta, talking to an … [Read more...]
Celebrating Indonesia’s literary fiction tradition
June 5, 2016 by
As part of its annual literary fiction program, Indonesia’s leading daily newspaper Kompas has launched its annual best short story anthology, consisting of work printed by the paper throughout 2015. The event was held in conjunction with an awards ceremony for its best fiction writers. Many … [Read more...]
Literary award gives nod to historically themed work
March 11, 2016 by
As a bow to literary works that highlight controversial parts of Indonesian history, the Khatulistiwa Award honoured on Tuesday author Leila S. Chudori and poet Afrizal Malna, whose works shed light on the country’s past. Leila took the prose prize for her novel Pulang (Homecoming), while Afrizal … [Read more...]
Writers in Spotlight at ‘Kenduri Kata’ Gathering
February 8, 2016 by
The leafy outdoor space of Suar Artspace was crowded on Saturday afternoon when the art venue in South Jakarta hosted an event they called "Kenduri Kata," or "Feast of Words". In the one-day gathering, which was open for writers and readers alike, the art space organizers were looking to tap into … [Read more...]
