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Padepokan Lemah Putih and its programs (One Year Program 2008)
Submitted by Padepokan Lemah Putih / Melati Suryodarmo

In the early 2003, Padepokan Lemah Putih has arranged for the first time its regular fullmoon activities called Lir-Ilir. The idea was initiated by Suprapto Suryodarmo, dance and movement teacher in Solo whose expertise in culture and
ritual art context. Considering the need of space which is independently stand for supporting productivity of young artists in Solo and around the region, Padepokan
Lemah Putih has been continuing Lir-Ilir and Macaning as their regular activities since then. Both activities remain small, but most of the public who came were enthusiastic and very supporting the artists by being active during the talk session. Some artists have been encouraged and have stepped further with success in the bigger public space and carrier.

Solo is consider as an important town with a lot of young talented performing artists, especially those who are based on traditional dance and music and have studied at the Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Surakarta and Sekolah Menengah Karawitan Indonesia (SMKI) Surakarta. The Padepokan Lemah Putih has been developed through the School of Amerta Movement to open possibilities for artists in the region to use the place for their creative processes, meetings, exchanges and performances. Our main intension during this year is to continue Lir-Ilir and
Macaning, as well as our two other annual projects, Performance Art Laboratory Projects (PALA) Projects and “undisclosed territory” performance art events. We also arrange two new activities, which regards to productive discussion monthly session for young choreographers, dancers, dance music composers and musicians, which is called Studi Klub Tari and also a quarterly lecture, Temu Mata, which is a kind of open lecture to support learning process of professional artists in the country and abroad.

Our attitude towards all activities is to remain simple, being ecological, efficient, but continuously and keep the high spirit for art and being concern to the social and cultural environments.

Programs 2008

1.1 LIR-ILIR
Lir –Ilir is a performance evening event which the date of the schedule is decided in every two months on the day of full moon according to the Javanese Calendar. Lir-ilir was initiated to continue and keep the tradition of full moon night event according to the Javanese tradition. Under the moonlight, usually people celebrate with music and dance performances. This day is also believed to give a strong positive energy if we keep our mind awake.

Contextually, Lir-Ilir at Padepokan Lemah Putih is aimed to open opportunities, space and time for young choreographers, composers, theatre and performance artists, as individual or in a group especially from the region of Solo, Central Java and Yogyakarta, as well as from other part of Indonesia, to present their works which have contemporary characters and in their progressive processes. The works presented should contain a development based on the traditional roots in form or concept and research. Lir-Ilir is also open for a new form, innovative works. This event is aimed to present the works for public in a smaller scale and is ended up with discussion session. In each event, we invite three to four artists to present their works and one prominent local artist or art critic to lead the discussion.

Lir-Ilir is aimed:
-To open opportunities for artists or group of artists in the field of dance, music, theatre and performance art to present their works which are in the stage of its process embryo as well as in progress.
-To invite artists to present their works and open it for discussion and critics coming from public or observer.
-To encourage artists to continue creative processes through their presentations at the event as the preview performance before arriving in the bigger public performance space.
-To support artist’s innovative and experimental creative processes and projects as well as professionalism by providing simple space and supporting materials.

Schedule 2008
Dates
Wednesday 20 – Friday 22, February, 2008
Minggu, 20 April 2008 “Pasamuan Lir-Ilir dan Macaning
Wednesday, June 18 2008
Saturday, August16 2008
Tuesday, October 14 2008
Friday, December 12 2008

1.2 MACANING
Macaning offers a space and time for artists whose works based on the traditional ritual performance in form, as well as context or basic research. As in many Indonesian traditional performing arts, spirituality and ritual were the essence of the performance, Javanese has the tradition of being sacred, and keep the evening for pray or meditation to connect with the power of nature during the Anggara Kasih night. As we consider that the interest and the spirit to connect ourselves with the nature is getting rare, we hope that this event will open possibility to actualizing spirituality towards the nature within the art context. Macaning is arranged to support artists and performances which are related to spirituality and ritual performance, in its traditional form, like Macapatan, Lesungan, Wayangan, or in new explorative form based on traditional arts or rituals. Presentation at the event will be at the open space in Padepokan Lemah Putih area and will keep the landscape as a natural stage. Macaning is open for artists coming from any ethnic and tradition within the country. Schedule: every two months, on Monday night (Malam Selasa Kliwon Javanese Calendar)

Schedule of MACANING 2008
Dates
Monday, January 7 2008
Monday, March 17 2008
Monday, May 26 2008
Monday, June 30 2008
Monday, September 8 2008
Monday, November 17 2008

1.3 STUDI KLUB TARI
FORUM DISKUSI
Studi Klub Tari is a monthly small discussion forum where young dancers, choreographers, dance music composers and dance critics are meeting to share ideas, experience and opinion, and also to discuss chosen topics about recent issues in dance context.

The Studi Klub Tari is a discussion forum with open membership that seeks to develop a healthy method of speaking and sharing opinion in forum in smaller scale. It is expected to be continues productive learning process and encourage the member to raise their interest to knowledge by providing literary materials.

The Studi Klub tari at Padepokan Lemah Putih is a Thursday evening discussions meeting which is led by one moderator.

SCHEDULE
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Thursday, 23 October 2008

1.4 TEMU MATA
FORUM DISKUSI
Temu Mata, is an open lecture session, where professional visual or performing artists, traditional or contemporary, individual or groups who already have been contributing their carrier to contemporary or traditional arts history in Indonesia and abroad are invited to give a presentation about their creative processes, backgrounds, philosophy and experiences.

Artist invited are expected to present their ideas and concepts of their works in a lecture situation included presentation of documentations, slide shows, or power point presentation.

The event is aimed to fulfill public interests especially the interest coming from the art students to understand works and the process of making the works of professional artist.

A session of “Question & Answer” is included to broaden the understanding of the artistic process and art history.

SCHEDULE OF TEMU MATA
Dates
Wednesday, March 26 2008
Saturday, July 12 2008
Wednesday, September 24 2008
Wednesday, November 12 2008

PERFORMANCE ART LABORATORY PROJECT (PALA)
UNDISCLOSED TERRITORY #2 2008
1- 13 APRIL 2008
BALI - JAVA
PADEPOKAN LEMAH PUTIH SOLO, INDONESIA

Introducing the Projects
Melati Suryodarmo
Continuing our 2007 Bali-Java project, in which the “undisclosed territory” was a follow up activity of the 15th Performance Art Conference in Bali, our upcoming 2008’s “undisclosed territory #2” will begin with the Performance Art Laboratory Project (PALA Project) 2008 in Bali.

PALA Project 2008 is purposed to provide space and time for the participating artists to share their artistic processes, to exchange experiences, practical and conceptual methods, and to enhance dialogues in a kind of organically structured laboratory process and in a concentrated place.

For our “undisclosed territory#2”, Padepokan Lemah Putih intends to provide time and space for work presentation, developing new understanding and opening dialogue between the artists and with the public within the context of performance art.

Both Bali –Java projects, are two strong connected elements in which artists have more concentrated time and space to experience exchange and dialogue processes between artists in one place and being present for public in another place.

Padepokan Lemah Putih invites each year one qualified curator for the PALA Project and “undisclosed territory”. The curator sets up a concept, and selects artists to participate in both projects.

For the PALA Project 2008 and the “undisclosed territory #2” performance art event, Padepokan Lemah Putih invites Boris Nieslony to be our curator, who has put conceptual basement which focuses on the theme: “The deviation between body-movements, body-gestures and body language and deviation of the transport of contents”.

Due to our financial situation, invited artist are encouraged to apply for supporting funding from their country of origins, we provide all necessary documents for this purpose. We hope that by realizing both projects, artists and public are stimulated to broaden and deepen their perspectives about performance art in art, social and cultural, as well as, humanity contexts.

Project Description
Performance Art Laboratory Project 2008
Performance Art Laboratory Project (PALA Project) is an annual project, which is arranged to provide the kind of professional and creative research and development opportunities for International and Indonesian performance artists.

PALA Project is creating a (flexible) blueprint for a laboratory model that seeks to develop, challenge and support hybrid performance practices by affording the participating artists a rare opportunity to explore ideas and understanding the influence of cultural diversities on practical issues in creating performance works.

The laboratory is provided to open boundaries of determination and definitions of performance art and performing arts, and to explore the practical exchanges by pursuing the intercultural understanding, philosophical perceptions, technical and methodical approaches.

PALA Project is open for visual arts, theatre, dance or music based international and Indonesian performance artists in any stage of their carrier.

PALA project is initiated by the Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo to promote a long-term cultural project. In its annual project, PALA Project is intended to collaborate with curator and art institution or group.

The PALA Project 2008 invites Boris Nieslony, founder from ASA European (Art Service Association) and E.P.I. Zentrum (European Performance Institute Cologne / Germany) as collaborated curator and as partner organizer.

PALA Project 2008 will focus on exchanges and dialogues between performance artist and performing artists. International performance artists and performing artists are invited to be in the project and actively contribute their idea, conceptual backgrounds, and practices. The project is open for progressive collaborations between artists, and new performance art works. At the end of the project, artists are expected to present their previous or new works at the “undisclosed territory #2” in Solo, Java, Indonesia.

Schedule: April 1st to 6th , 2008.
Place: Cilimas, Tejakula, Bali

Project Description
undisclosed territory #2
“undisclosed territory” is an annual performance art event which was held for the first time in March 2007 at the Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo, Indonesia. This event is promoted to introduce and present performance art works by Indonesian and International performance artists.

The first “undisclosed territory” 2007 included works of 13 international and 12 Indonesian performance artists. All the international artists were participant artists at the “15th Performance Art Conference” which was held in Bali and was organized by ASA European and Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo. During the “undisclosed territory” 2007, a lecture held by Boris Nieslony (Germany), artists talk and video screening of performance documentation and short and long duration performances were included in the program. The three days full time program from 24th – 26th of March 2007, has attracted around 600 local public and visitors from other cities. A group of students from ISI Jogjakarta dance department has intensively joined and stayed for the whole 3 days.

“undisclosed territory # 2” will be the second Bali – Java connected project, which is based on the curatorial concept. All artists participating at the PALA project will be invited to “undisclosed territory # 2” at Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo. “undisclosed territory # 2” will include artists presentations , video screening of participating artists previous works, lectures, several sessions of artists talk and performances.

Schedule: April 10^th to 13^th 2008.
Place: Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo.

Curatorial Letter
Boris Nieslony
Due to my work as a curator and organizer in the field of "performance art" since more then 25 years, and more and more in the international assessment, I am aware of structural differences, that are not based on cultural goods, not on the cultural representation of a nation, but that covers the "idiosyncrasies of the day-to-day". Besides the ethnological and anthropological contexts, there is the deep interest to research coherences that represent themselves as dynamic changes and can be defined as pre-cultural forces. More concrete evaluations are connected to the various questions that I want to focus on in the following paragraphs:

The deviation between body-movements, body-gestures and body language
Movements of human beings, before they are stylized in cultural attainments and are chosen to be representative symbols of a culture (like dance, music, theater, political, social and religious rituals) underlie extensive patterns of human accomplishments and doings, which driving forces can never be controlled.
Field of these forces, are for example work, pass time, family and every form of social involvement and social togetherness, biographically founded and evolutionary - that what is defined as public. This patterns of moving and movements create a multiplicity of form of expressions, that originate and form new cultural particles of "the new", or, and that much too often, to vanish again.

The nearly always-same question between artists of different nations: how too
This movements originate and how do the numberless variables of expression are created. What is the background of all these gestures and how do unforeseen embodiments come into existence. I see this appearances and the incidence, the showing and/or vanishing of the place of performance as the central field of gravitation of this research.

Deviation of the transport of contents
Further leading appears next the question: how can it be explained that there is that wide gaps in the modicum of interpretations and how can it be explained, that body-movements exist, totally free of any cultural interpretation by various observers as well with completely different levels of education. These movements cannot be connected to any standard of any of how to ever-defined culture. Movements cannot be explained, they are out of any context - and this are intended - and based in every single person. The motive of the showing and the showing off and the performing, I defined it to be the "pre-cultural" in communication and perception. The ocean of quantum, where out of the senses sense emerges and then vanishes again.

To develop basic parameters for research modi
(Practical Cultural Studies)
The third question, that is more then essential in this field of research: how do places, institutions, projects and methods look like, that are founding the basics and that are creating sense. One has to constitute and create tools, which serve as programs of cognition, induction and display. How are patterns of movements transformed into patterns of orientation? How and under which conditions are the phenomena created in every person, that then appear as a fix defined field of values, traditions, mentalities and habitués, to then be abolished for not being suitable - or that will be transferred into the big game "culture". The PALA Project 2008 is a place that has to be created - all double meanings intended. See down line FRAMEWORK

The international invited artists move within their own works within these ethnographic, anthropological and frame-building fundamentals. Many of the participating artists are involved with these topics in apprenticeship and university research.

PALA Project 2008

The laboratory will run under systematic working frames, which are prepared by the curator, and organizer.

The curator will provide a basic concept of the laboratory, arrange and put the program together. The curator selects the participants, and arrives earlier in order to develop a structure and schedule of the laboratory, together with the organizers. Participating artists are selected artists by the curator. Participating artists are international and Indonesian artists in their mid or advanced carrier in performance art or performing arts.

The maximum number of participants are 30 artists, which are 8 artists from Indonesia, 12 artists from other Asian countries, 10 artists from Europe, Australia and USA.

Working Structures
The working structures will include:
- Philosophical understanding
- Laboratories
- Physical practices
- Visual awareness
- On site realization and practices
- Open discussions
- Collaborations or working group

Practical Plan
Introduction
The curator is responsible to introduce the program, based on the concept. He is also expected to lead all presentation, arrange the time, and order of artists presentation

Artist presentations, lecture, performative presentations
Artists are asked to present their creative process, by presentation in a form of talk, interactive media presentation, documentation screening, lecture, or performative presentation. Each artist will be provided with one-hour presentation time, included the question and answer session.

Practical sharing
Artists may offer a specific technique or exercise they use in their creative process. It should be discussed beforehand with the curator.

Open session
It will be a session where artists meet for open improvisation or collaboration.

Introducing local artists
The laboratory will include the presence of local artists. They are puppet shadow player, and a group of traditional dance opera “Wayang Wong” Tejakula.
We will ask the artist to give a talk, about their method, history and recent condition, before or after they present their performances.

Introducing the environmental sources around Tejakula area.

We will travel to one or two specific sites around Tejakula,
i.e. Waterfall, Hot spring, and temple.

Duration of the laboratory
The duration of the laboratory will be 6 days.
The expected schedule will be: April 1st – April 6th 2008,
from 9 AM – 10 PM daily.

April 1 – 6, 2008
Tuesday, 1 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Introduction
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Talk and Plan
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Session

Wednesday, 2 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Session
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Session
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Open Session

Thursday, 3 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Session
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Session
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Open Session

Friday, 4 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Session
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Session
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Open Session

Saturday, 5 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Session
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Session
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Open Session

Sunday, 6 April
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
09:00 - 12:00 Session
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 Session
18:00 - 20:00 Dinner
20:00 - 22:00 Open Session

Monday, 7 April Travel to Java

The Event Location
Pala Project 2008 will be located at the Cilimas Centre of Yayasan Tejakukus, Tejakula, Bali. The place is facilitated with:
a simple open hall (12 x 12 meter)
Teja Amerta Temple garden area (10 minutes walk from the main housing)
all location are directly on the Northern Beach Tejakula
Included in the property, a landscape studio on the mountain area is also provided. (10 min. drive)
8 rooms with double occupancies in one area (Cilimas)
2 - 4 rooms with double occupancies in the neighborhood
Low capacity of electricity
No cable telephone or internet access (only mobile phone is possible)
One main kitchen
It is located in the middle of traditional fishermen village and Not a tourist area
All participants will be accommodated in the same area, with a simple housing and food.

undisclosed territory #2
All artists participating in the PALA project 2008, will travel to Solo, Java and are invited to perform at the “undisclosed territory #2” an annual performance event at the Padepokan Lemah Putih, Solo and some public spaces in Solo. In additional, Padepokan Lemah Putih and the curator will invite more Indonesian and International artists to present their work during the event.

The Performance event will include programs as follows:

1. Short performances
Performances presented by all participating artists. Each performance will be between 20 to 40 minutes in duration.

Participating artists are expected to present their performances as short or long duration performances, individual or collaboration works. Short performances program will be scheduled in the afternoon and evening.
2. Long durational performances
During the long durational performance program, artists will present their 3 to 6 hours long duration performances parallel with other artists. Artists are free to choose their space. Using the whole area of Padepokan Lemah Putih.

3. Lectures and presentation
We will program the lecture and presentations in the morning between 10 to noon. Lectures and presentation will be focused on the development of performance art in Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and the history of the Principal Black Market International.

4. The event will be scheduled for four days intensive
program, from April 10th to April 13th 2008, from 10 Am to
10 PM.

10 – 13 April 2008
Thursday, 10 April 08
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast, artist meeting
10:00 - 12:00 Opening, lecture
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 Performances
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00 - 22:00 Performances

Friday, 11 April 08
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 lecture
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 Performances
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00 - 22:00 Performances

Saturday, 12 April 08
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 lecture
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 Performances
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00 - 22:00 Performances

Sunday, 13 April 08
07:00 - 09:00 breakfast
10:00 - 14:00 Performances Long duration
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 Performances
19:00 - 22:00 Dinner, Farewell

“undisclosed territory #2” will be held at the area of Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo. The place is facilitated with:
4 Hectars landscape studio, open door with path ways, small hills, river, Teak trees, Mandala platform, square platforms
2 Javanese Pendopo. (13 x 13 meters, with 100 audience capacity) and (7 x7 meters, for video screening)
1 house for Artist accommodation, with simple beds, kitchen and bathroom (occupancies of 8 persons)
Located on the northern part of Solo city. 20 minutes drive to the city centre.

Accommodation and Transportation

Padepokan Lemah Putih will assist to manage the lodging and transportation for all of the participating artists.

Accommodation for the PALA Project: will be centered at the Cilimas Centre in Tejakula. The local arts foundation Yayasan Tejakukus, will be our partner organizer at the location.

Accommodation for the “undisclosed territory#2” participants artists will be organized in the area of Lemah Putih, with a simple housing and in down town and will provide meals for the participating artists All artist should find support from their country to cover the travel accommodation expenses.

Expected Public
Tejakula
In order to keep the respect to the ecological resources of the area, the local society and culture, all participants are expected to communicate with local people, open for their interest to watch the process, and not to disturb their daily activities. As the village has some potential artists, dancers and musician, they are welcome to be our observers. Tejakula is famous of its traditional Balinese dance Opera and puppet shadow play. As part of the program, we will invite them to perform and introduce their groups and their history.

Solo
Most of the pubic are coming from the villages in the neighborhood, local artists and art students. From our experiences, normally there are some groups of visitors coming also from other towns to attend the events.

Considering many request from our public, during our upcoming “undisclosed territory” event, we will schedule more lectures and talk sessions. Therefore we appreciate if some artists would like to give a presentation about their artistic processes or ideas to the public.

Considering that Indonesian are religious society, we are encouraged to inform the artists not to present any performance or subject that hurts religiosity.

Project Dissemination

There will be public relations activities with media (i.e. local radio and television), press (i.e. magazines, art and culture magazines, and newspapers), print media (i.e. posters, leaflets and brochures), cyber media (i.e. website and internet) and membership network.

ORGANIZERS - PALA Project & undisclosed territory #2 2008

MELATI SURYODARMO
Project Manager

DIAH WELMA MAYAHATI
Secretary

YULIATI
Treasurer

FLOURISH
Public Relations

RETNO SAYEKTI LAWU
Operational Manager

BEJOU, ARIEF, AFRIZAL
Documentation

YUSTINUS
Logistic and Security

BORIS NIELONY
Curator

ASA EUROPEAN GERMANY
Partner Institution
www.asa.de
asabank@asa.de

PADEPOKAN LEMAH PUTIH SOLO
Host Institution
www.lemahputih.com
info@lemahputih.com

Bonorejo RT 01/RW 02
Plesungan Gondangrejo
Karanganyar 57773
Surakarta
Jawa Tengah
Indonesia