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California
Cheeses
showcased
In Jakarta
Cheese lovers in Jakarta
were in for a treat
when the California Milk
Advisory Board (CMAB) hosted
a series of pizza cheese
training sessions and cheese
receptions in town recently.
The cheese receptions were to
share the importance of highquality
cheese exports to Asia
from California for the pizza
market.
“In recent years, the total US cheese
exports to Asian markets have
increased at double digit rates,”
explained Mark ‘Cheese Dude’ Todd,
a culinary expert who works with the
CMAB on its pizza cheese program.
Mark Todd has more than 15 years of
experience in the wine and cheese
businesses, and was the guest
instructor at the pizza trainings held
in a series of cities in Asia during his
visit.
Photorealist painter Chusin
at Galeri nasional
The history of art indicates that from the
invention of the first camera, photography
took over from painting in capturing a
realistic depiction of an event or subject. Yet,
many painters have continued with realism as an
artistic expression. In fact, they continue to make
breakthroughs in composition, color, and the
language of painting.
We Came From the east
“
Indonesia was Atlantis...” -- this
was one of several controversial
statements made by Jecko
Siompo, a talented young Papuaborn
choreographer, at a press
conference on 7 April in GoetheHaus,
Jakarta, less than a week before
the performance of his latest
contemporary dance creation, ‘We
came from the East’, took place.
Jecko also announced to the press
that day, his claim that Hip Hop
originated from Papua.
One can recognise Jecko Siompo’s dance
characteristics from the energetic animalinspired
movements which the artist refers
to as Animal Pop. Explaining his statement
that Hip Hop originated
from Papua, Jecko shared
with the press, his belief
that Atlantis was the
origin of world’s existing
cultures, including Hip Hop,
“The basic movement of
Papua animal dance can
be found in hip hop...I
believe that Hip Hop dance
is the modern version
of the animal dance,
with a faster tempo and
focus on the technical
One of these artists is Chusin
Setiadikara, a Bandung-born
photorealist painter, now resident in
Bali. Chusin showcased his paintings
of life at Kintamani market, Bali at
Galeri Nasional from 15 to 25 March.
It was riveting. Chusin, who is known
for his precise details, is said to be a
human version of a high-resolution
camera that can capture every detail
of an object. Yet, he is different
from most photorealist painters.
He doesn’t simply copy the actual
objects onto the canvas, he plays
with them. After he captures the
side”. Jecko brings his discovery into his
choreography for ‘We came from the East’,
which incorporates hip hop, animal dance
movements from Papua; with little touch of
Sundanese as well as old Indonesian pop
music.
We came from the East was a
remarkable success at its first performance
on 12 April in GoetheHaus, Jakarta
and at the subsequent performance in
Kampagnagel Theater, Germany, on 20-22
April which attracted an audience of over
2000. The dance was performed by 10
dancers, two of whom came from Berlin and
Leipzig. According to Jecko, the diversity of
ethnicities among the dancers underscores
the multiethnic society of Atlantis, where
people coexisted in harmony.
objects with his camera, he recasts
these objects onto the canvas,
into an entirely new arrangement,
which differs from the original
composition.
Chusin’s painting exhibition
entitled Chusin’s Realistic Painting;
a Thesis, showcased about 20
paintings the artist had created
over the last three years in Bali.
The exhibition highlighted Chusin’s
consistency in his approach to
realism which he is opening up to
new ways for development.
BY: RISTI BROPHY, FRANSISCA RESTIAWARDANI. PHOTOS: AGUNG NATANAEL, GOETHE BY: HAUS. FRANSISCA RESTIAWARDANI. PHOTO:SALIHARA
grandkemang Hotel
the royal Party: Hotel sultan
There comes a time to count your blessings; even if you are
the largest hotel in Indonesia. On the 1st of April, The Sultan
Hotel Jakarta hosted an ‘appreciation night’ entitled ‘The
Royal Party’ in its Golden Ballroom to honour stakeholder parties
across the spectrum that had helped the hotel reach its eminent
status. Given particular credit were the hotel guests, for whom
hotel manager I. Nyoman Sarya and his management team
expressed his quintessential gratitude. Other parties deserving of
thanks included corporate clients, travel agency representatives,
media partners and embassy staff who thronged the event,
reaching over 200 in number.
A Gala Dinner kicked off the
festivities and was graced with
performances by Indonesian
vocalists Ruth Sahanaya and
Ari Kirana ‘Warna’, an angklung
performance by Mang Ujo, and a
most vibrant fashion show. Hardearned
awards were doled out
towards the end of the event to the
top 10 corporate clients and travel
agents who held the largest stake in
the hotel’s continued success.
earth Hour
at Vin+ arcadia
Having first opened its doors
in March 2009, Vin+ Arcadia,
a second branch of Vin+,
has become one of Jakarta’s most
recognised wine merchants. Its
commitment to providing large
wine selections and mouthwatering
cuisine in a comfortable and elegant
atmosphere has proven successful,
so that Vin+ has been able to open
franchises in other major cities in
Indonesia. As one of the pioneers in
the wine business in Jakarta, Vin+
has given significant contribution to
the rapid development and growth of
wine culture in Jakarta.
On 26 th March, Vin+ Arcadia partook
in Earth Hour for the second time.
For an hour - from 8:30pm to 9:30pm
- the only lighting in the venue was
that of candlelight. It was Vin+
Arcadia’s way of encouraging its
guests to make changes in the fight
against global warming.
Vin+ arcadia
Plaza Senayan Arcadia
Jl. New Delhi No. 9, Central Jakarta
T: +62-21 5790 1477
14 | MAY 2011 www.nowjakarta.co.id
www.nowjakarta.co.id MAY 2011 | 15
BY: KINDRA COOPER, FRANSISCA RESTIAWARDANI. PHOTOS: AGUNG NATANAEL, SULTAN HOTEL.
The egg-laden tree towering in
the center of grandkemang
Hotel’s lobby was a spectacle - if
not an oddity - to behold. The ‘Easter
Charity Tree’ was erected in honour
of fundraising efforts for the nation’s
cancer-afflicted youth. In conjunction
with Tomato Art School and
Yayasan Pita Kuning Anak Indonesia,
grandkemang Hotel held a Dinosaur
Egg Painting Competition from
1-24th April, inviting participants
ages six to 12 and 13 to 18 years to
purchase a Styrofoam ‘dinosaur egg’
and decorate it to their fancy using
a medium of their choice such as
oil paints, pastels, or watercolours.
Separate judging panels for the two
age groups convened to decide
which egg was deserving of the big
prize: Rp 12 million in prize money.
The competition took place on
three separate days, with the final
round occurring on the 24 th of April,
on Easter Day. That same day, a
Charity Easter Brunch was held at
the Sperta all-day dining Restaurant
and 20 percent of the income
generated was donated to Yayasan
Pita Kuning Anak Indonesia, for their
continued efforts to fund treatment
for the financially-incapacitated
at the children’s oncology ward
at Dharmais Hospital. The Helping
Hand Community put their oar in by
coordinating a Garage Sale at the
hotel’s poolside, with all resultant
The Sultan Hotel Jakarta is
located in Senayan, the hub of
Jakarta’s CBD and ‘Golden Triangle’,
and is committed to synching Royal
Javanese hospitality with unrivalled
five-star service. The hotel’s three
towers comprise 694 guest rooms,
nine banquet rooms, and manifold
facilities such as a shopping
arcade, jogging track and fitness
center.
proceeds being donated to the
worthy cause. Selected eggs from
the Easter Charity Tree were held
for auction; it is hoped proceeds this
year will top last year’s Rp 78 million.
Yayasan Pita Kuning Anak Indonesia is a
non-profit organization whose philosophy
is to not only provide funding but to help
enliven the child’s spirit and zest for life by
involving them in handicraft, storytelling,
and other collaborative projects. It is hoped
that with a positive mentality, medical
treatment will be better received.