Ayu Utami (Indonesia)

Ayu Utami was born in Bogor in 1968, grew up and Jakarta, obtaining her bachelor degree in literature studies at Universitas Indonesia. She is one of the most prominent representatives of a new generation of Indonesian writers, who, even before the end of the Suharto regime, were already openly addressing the social and cultural conflicts of the island state, and today accompany the transition to democracy with a critical voice.

Her first novel, Saman, was awarded the Best Novel from Dewan Kesenian Jakarta in 1998 and in 2000 she was a Prince Claus Award laureate for opening new horizons for modern literature in Indonesia. The book, which has sold more than 100,000 copies and been reprinted 34 times, has won acclaim for its innovative prose style and thematic choices. In addressing social taboos, Utami sparked the current feminist-centred literary revolution, in which female sexuality and gender politics are explored in an open and subversive manner. The novel was published only a few weeks before General Suharto was removed from power, and its publication was a sign of the approaching political change in her country.

A founding member of Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists, Ayu Utami currently works for Radio 68H, an independent news radio station that is broadcast all over the country, and for the art centre Komunitas Utan Kayu. She writes regular opinion pieces in a newspaper and a magazine in Indonesia.

Bibliography

Saman, KPG, 1998

Larung, KPG, 2001

Parasit Lajang: Seks, Sketsa, Cerita (The Single Parasit:Sex, Sketches, Stories) Gagasmedia, 2003