Synopsis

Review by Chisato Hara: Finding One's Paradise Within

About the Author

Launch at Lamak

Australian writer finds her creative renaissance in Bali

Cross-cultural arts collaboration

Singer strikes gold in Bandung

Cornall finds her creative renaissance in Bali

Writer Jan Cornall describes the air in Bali as: “so thick with creativity you could slice it and eat it”…. “especially in Ubud”, where Jan spends most of her time when she is here.

She has been travelling there since 2002, to write, run writer’s retreats and take part in the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Since meeting Indonesian writers and artists and spending time here, new work has been pouring out of her.

On 30th September 2006, at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Jan launches her new novel, Take me To Paradise and a CD of jazz interpretations of the poetry of Sitok Srengenge: Jan Cornall, Singing Srengenge, both a result of her recent Indo-fuelled creative renaissance.

“Indonesia has given me back my creative spirit” Jan says. “ In Bali I began performing my songs and poems again publicly, something I haven’t done for 20 years. I can’t help but respond to the talent and passion of Indonesian artists. They have spurred me on to create some of my best work. I am so thankful to them. In the west where we have had arts funding for years, it’s easy to become blasé and jaded. Spirit and passion is what I get when I come to Indonesia and now I’m addicted, so you will be seeing a lot more of me!”

Earlier this year Jan was an Asia Link resident with Teater Utan Kayu, in Jakarta and worked on a number of other collaborations with Indonesian artists: A performance poetry event: Mom and Her Bastard Sons, with Yogyakarta bands Black Ribbon, Sentimental A Go Go, and Phyto and Latex; and participation in Perfurbance, Yogya’s annual performance art festival. To document her Yogya activities Jan produced a short film with Buta Buti independent film makers called: The Friendship Between You and Me Depends on Art.

After this year’s festival on 4-8 October, Jan is running her sixth Ubud writer’s retreat, an Inspired Writing Intensive, sharing once more the inspiration she receives from Bali’s rich creative heritage. She then continues to perform and launch her novel and CDs in Jakarta and Bandung.

Launch Program:

30 Sep         Book Launch at Lamak, Monkey Forest Rd, 5:30 - 7pm
13 Oct         Performance at Teater Utan Kayu, Jakarta 8 -10pm
20 Oct         Concert at Opulence Lounge, Bandung 8 - 10pm

Specifications:

Take Me to Paradise by Jan Cornall, design and publishing by Saritaksu Editions 2006, ISBN: 9791173-00-1, Soft cover with flaps, 116 pages, 290 mm x 145 mm.

About the Author
Sneak Preview
Writer's creative renaissance in Bali
Cross-cultural arts collaboration
Singer strikes gold in Bandung

Jan's latest CD:

Jan Coranll Singing Srengenge, Written by Sitok Srengenge
Composed and sung by Jan Cornall
Arranged and produced by Imel Rosalin

Jan Cornall

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