Arts

Indonesia’s Shi’i community is struggling to find the right balance between local traditions and its fascination with Iran

A unique pesantren, founded and led by an internationally recognised Indonesian calligrapher, attracts men and women from all over the archipelago

A mural competition in Yogyakarta sees Indonesians reinterpreting their revolutionary past in the light of present concerns

A new generation of Indonesian theatre activists is staging performances based on the everyday experiences of local communities

When Rendra returned from three years study in New York in 1967 the innovations he introduced into modern Indonesian theatre signalled the wider impact he would have on Indonesian cultural and political life

These 1979 Rendra postcards were illustrated by the New Art Movement painter Hardi, who had also attracted the unwelcome attention of the authorities

Rendra's broad humanitarian outlook was that of a renaissance figure

Recent book bannings mark a return to the repressive practices of the New Order

The tumultuous events of 1965 thwarted Liong Tjie Tjong’s writing aspirations

Packed screenings of the controversial film about the deaths of five Australian journalists in East Timor continue, despite an official ban

Wayang Golek is proclaimed a masterpiece, but what is its future?

The peacock is no more

Islamic film is emerging as a new genre in the Indonesian film world

Photo essay: Competition leads to artistry and danger on the streets of Kupang

Dangdut music continues to be a vital part of Indonesian popular culture

As Minang dance shows, the guiding rules of culture are often unspoken

Indonesian women in Perth perform a ‘uniting’ dance

An update on dance and music in the reformasi era

Aceh’s performing arts have blossomed despite the conflict and the tsunami