Asrul Sani Exhibition Traces Legacy of Indonesian Film Maestro
- 22 Agt 2026 09:16 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The Asrul Sani retrospective exhibition runs from August 21–30, 2026, at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, showcasing his contributions to literature, theater, and cinema.
- The exhibition features archives, film screenings, dramatic readings, and discussions exploring the creative journey and lasting cultural legacy of the Indonesian film and literary pioneer.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) officially opened a retrospective exhibition titled Asrul Sani: Berkelana ke Masa Lampau, Terdampar ke Masa Kini (Asrul Sani: Wandering to the Past, Stranded in the Present) at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) in Jakarta on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Running through August 30, 2026, across the Collection Museum Room, Asrul Sani Theater, and Sjuman Djaya Theater in the Trisno Sumardjo Building, the 10-day event traces the creative journey, archives, and intellectual legacy of the West Sumatra-born pioneer of Indonesian literature, theater, and cinema.
Asrul Sani, a key figure of the '45 Generation (Angkatan '45) in Indonesian literature alongside Chairil Anwar and Rivai Apin, left a lasting mark on cinema through iconic screenplays and films such as Lewat Djam Malam (1954), Apa Jang Kau Tjari, Palupi? (1969), Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (1986), and Nagabonar (1987).
Free and open to the public, the event features film screenings, dramatic readings by Teater Gravitasi, essay readings by actor Teuku Rifnu Wikana, and cross-generational discussions featuring Mutiara Sani, Riri Riza, Gina S. Noer, and Ratih Kumala.
Arts council leaders and cultural organizers emphasized that archiving and revisiting the works of foundational artists provides crucial intellectual reference points for modern Indonesian creative industries. Chairperson of the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) Dewi Umaya highlighted the multidimensional nature of Asrul Sani's contribution to Indonesian cultural institutions.
"We want to showcase the legacy of an artist—how his ideas were born, how his works developed, and how an artist connects with his era and surrounding cultural environment, Asrul moved between literature, theater, film, education, translation, and institutional work. He wrote, translated, educated, directed, and simultaneously helped build cultural institutions," she said during the opening ceremony in Jakarta on Friday, August 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara. ***
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