September 28 East-West Center Event: Beauty is a Wound
The East-West Center in Washington, in cooperation with American University’s ASEAN
Studies Initiative and the Indonesian Embassy to the United States, invites you to an Asia
Pacific Human Rights and Democracy Seminar:
Beauty is a Wound
Featuring:
Mr. Eka Kurniawan
Author
H.E. Robert Pringle (Discussant)
The United States-Indonesia Society
Spanning half a century in the fictional Indonesian coastal town of Halimunda, Mr. Eka Kurniawan’s Beauty is a Wound, translated into English for the first time, follows Indonesian prostitute Dewi Ayu who has risen from her grave after twenty one years.
Throughout the novel Dewi Ayu and her four daughters face innumerable tragedies, allegories to Indonesia’s troubled past with the greed of colonialism, the struggle for independence, the 1965 mass murders of hundreds of thousands of “Communists” and three decades of despotic rule under Suharto.
Mr. Kurniawan will discuss the major themes of his novel and H.E. Robert Pringle will offer his comments on Beauty is a Wound and elaborate on the historical context of the novel, particularly the 1965 genocide.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.
A light luncheon will be served.
To RSVP, please click here: www.eastwestcenter.org/ZoB
Seating is limited. Kindly send your reply by September 27.
East-West Center in Washington
1819 L Street, NW, Washington, DC, Sixth Floor Conference Room
This event is free and open to the public.
Eka Kurniawan is the author of two novels, two collections of short stories and a critical appreciation of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. He has also written movie scripts and a graphic novel.
Robert Pringle is the author of a recent book on the history of the island of Bali. His experience with Indonesia began with a four-year posting at the US Embassy in Jakarta from 1970 to 1974. He has followed Indonesian history, thumb politics and culture ever since. His speaking topics include center-regional relationships, click environmental policy, the history of Bali, and Islam. He holds a PhD in Southeast Asian History from Cornell. Ambassador Pringle’s first book was on the Iban people who live in Sarawak (Malaysia) and adjacent areas of West Kalimantan (Indonesia). His Foreign Service experience included a tour as Ambassador to Mali (not Bali) and postings elsewhere in Africa as well as in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.