There is less than a week to go until the Festival! But before the Festival officially kicks off, we want to introduce you to some of the curators who have been working hard over the last couple of weeks to bring esteemed authors and thinkers from near and far to the stage, to share spectacular stories and inspiring ideas over three days.
We talked with Namal Siddiqui, our Head of International Programme, to hear about this year’s Festival theme, what sets Ubud apart from other places she has worked, and the events he is most looking forward to at this year's Festival.
As one of the Festival’s curators, how did you approach this year’s theme, and what guided you in shaping the programme around it?
Aham Brahmasmi, or I am the Universe – it really is an incantation and a reminder of the human condition. Who we are, what we think, what we do, and how we do it is reflected in the state of the world. Human conduct defines the universal condition; it is quotidian and cosmic. It is simple and holds power. That was the perspective I had in mind when shaping conversations for this year’s Festival – there is dialogue on global affairs, but also implications that trickle down to our day-to-day behaviours and how we react and respond.
You’ve been part of different literary landscapes, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Indonesia. How do you see Ubud’s literary and cultural energy compared to other places you’ve worked in?
This is my first festival in Ubud and in South-East Asia. As David van Reybrouck says in Revolusi, the world hasn’t been paying attention, or tends to sideline this massive, magnificent archipelago that is Indonesia. I find art and culture entirely absorbed in people’s lives here, as opposed to them taking time out for it. Ubud has a special charm. It is deeply cultural, steeped in tradition, and resists the rapid change of modern conveniences. It is a respite, in many ways, from the unnatural pace of life humans have acquired. So you find people interested in the arts, in literature, in what others have to offer, with a harmonious pace, and they are ready to listen. At the same time, there is the global diversity of people, dreams, and futures that I have come to witness in the UAE.
