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| "In Jakarta, life is so dynamic, changes take place quickly." |
Erasmus Huis, at the Dutch Embassy in Kuningan, is a hot spot for cultural performances. Each month, well-known Dutch artists, singers, dancers and musicians visit and hold free concerts and exhibitions for the capital’s residents. Today, Suni Sudradjat, a management assistant at Erasmus Huis, talks to us about the wide range of events on offer at the cultural center, how Indonesia could do with a lesson in cultural appreciation and how being born in Holland gave her the perfect grounding for her job.
You were born and raised in the Netherlands. How did your parents instill in you an appreciation for Indonesian culture?
Beginning at a young age my parents instilled in me an appreciation for foreign cultures in general, and Indonesian culture specifically. From the age of 3, I learned Javanese dance and Balinese dance. Apart from dance, I learned to play gamelan music. Living in the Netherlands, I was involved in a lot of associations for Indonesians, and I was educated at the Indonesian School in Amsterdam. I spoke Dutch with my parents, yet I conversed in Indonesian when I hung out with my friends.
My world was a balance of both cultures. Also, my parents would take me along to visit Indonesia every year during the school holiday.
Tell us about Erasmus Huis.
Erasmus Huis is a cultural center owned by the Dutch government. The main aim of the center is to display and present Dutch art and culture in Indonesia. All the activities are directed at educative art and cultural events like dance and music concerts, exhibitions, theater and seminars. A number of Dutch artists are flown to Jakarta to perform.
Do you think Indonesians appreciate their own culture enough?
It appears to me that foreigners are often very enthusiastic about Indonesian culture, much more than we are. Indonesians should be, though.
I think as Indonesians, we should delve deeper into our own culture and then express it from our own perspective to a wider society and the world. We find more books written by non-Indonesians on Indonesian art and culture than we do written by Indonesians.
What would you like to see change in that regard?
I look forward to seeing more Indonesians who are willing to investigate their own culture, then jump right into it and pass on the knowledge they acquire through books.
Indonesian culture is so rich and diverse, given that there are thousands of ethnic groups and islands that make up this unique place. Someone has to preserve it through literature.
To be part of this mission, my friends and I wrote a book that takes a look at five unique museums located in Ubud, Bali. The book is also supported by the minister of culture and tourism. We really can’t wait until its launch this October at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.
What is the title of the book?
Rahasia Terpendam Dalam Gedung-Gedung Museum di Ubud, Bali” (“The Hidden Secrets of the Museums of Ubud, Bali”).
Are the cultural events held at Erasmus Huis free of charge?
The events are subsidized by the Dutch government, so they are presented for free. Erasmus Huis also serves as a forum for cultural exchanges between Indonesia and the Netherlands, so some events also consist of collaborations between Indonesian and Dutch artists, as well as the exclusive works of local Indonesian artists.
What made you come back to Indonesia and Jakarta?
Thanks to my language skills and abilities, I started to work at an Indonesian nonprofit organization with its counterpart back in the Netherlands. In 1996 I came to Jakarta as a part-time project manager. A couple of years later, in 2002, I was trying to find a new job, so I applied at the Dutch Embassy and ultimately was hired at Erasmus Huis as a secretary. Two years later, I was promoted to management assistant.
What are the facilities like at Erasmus Huis?
There is a concert hall, exhibition space, library and an amphitheater. You can go to www.mfa.nl/erasmushuis/en or e-mail us to subscribe to our newsletter so you can learn about our upcoming events.
Did you experience any culture shock when you came to live in Jakarta ?
It was obviously different. But I felt comfortable and serene with being in the midst of my whole family. A strong family bond was one thing that I missed back in the Netherlands.
I had a structured and predictable life in the Netherlands. I was always pretty sure what the next day would hold. Here in Jakarta, life is so dynamic, changes take place so quickly. One just has to be flexible and swift in order to keep up with the unpredictable lifestyle here. This can be both good and bad.
The mentality forged here is to be adaptive and creative. But that messes up everything you try to plan using a calendar.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love to spend my weekends at home sweet home with my lovely family.
Is there one thing from Jakarta that reminds you of the Netherlands?
Well, it would be here at Erasmus Huis.
Erasmus Huis, which was founded in 1970 in Menteng, is now located on the grounds of the Dutch Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta. (Photo courtesy of Erasmus Huis)
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