River of Words: An Enchanted Evening of Poetry and Spoken Artistry

Behrouz Boochani is an Associate Professor and a renowned Kurdish-Iranian writer, journalist, scholar, cultural advocate, and filmmaker. He is a regular contributor to publications such as The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Huffington Post, New Matilda, The Financial Times, and The Sydney Morning Herald. His memoir, titled No Friend But The Mountains: Writing From Manus Prison, not only won the 2019 Victorian Prize for Literature but also achieved recognition in the Nonfiction category. Boochani was unjustly held as a political prisoner by the Australian government in Papua New Guinea for nearly seven years. Currently, he resides in Christchurch.

Behrouz Boochani adalah seorang Associate Professor serta seorang penulis, wartawan, cendekiawan, pegiat kebudayaan dan pembuat film Kurdish-Irani yang ternama. Ia adalah kontributor reguler untuk berbagai penerbitan seperti The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Huffington Post, New Matilda, The Financial Times, dan The Sydney Morning Herald. Memoirnya, berjudul No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison, tak hanya memenangkan 2019 Victorian Prize for Literature namun juga mendapatkan pengakuan dalam kategori Nonfiksi. Boochani secara tidak adil dihukum sebagai tahanan politik oleh pemerintah Australia di Papua Nugini selama nyaris tujuh tahun. Kini ia menetap di Christchurch.

Broede Carmody, a gifted poet from Dhudhuroa country in northeast Victoria, is making waves with his evocative work. His debut collection of poems, Flat Exit, published by Cordite Books in 2017, captured hearts with its profound themes and expressive storytelling. Embracing his poetic talent, Broede released his second book, Shouldering Pine, in February, further cementing his place among literary enthusiasts. His captivating verses have found a home in respected journals such as Meanjin, Cordite, and Voiceworks, offering a unique and authentic voice to the world of poetry.

Broede Carmody, seorang penyair berbakat dari kota Dhudhuroa dia Victoria, sedang mencuri perhatian dengan karya-karyanya yang menggugah emosi pembaca. Kumpulan puisi perdananya, Flat Exit, diterbitkan oleh Cordite Books di 2017, telah mencuri hati banyak orang dengan mengangkat tema-tema yang dalam menggunakan gaya bertutur yang ekspresif. Merangkul bakat puitiknya, Broede meluncurkan buku keduanya, Shouldering Pine, di bulan Februari, semakin memperkuat kedudukannya di kalangan peminat sastra. Syair-syairnya yang memikat telah dimuat di jurnal-jurnal ternama seperti Meanjin, Cordite dan Voiceworks, menawarkan suara yang unik dan otentik ke dalam dunia kepenyairan.

Ghayath Almadhoun, a talented poet born in Damascus in 1979, embarked on a remarkable journey from Palestine to Syria, eventually finding a home in Sweden in 2008. His poetic prowess has earned him acclaim worldwide, with his poetry collections translated into numerous languages. Ghayath’s artistic collaborations have enriched his work, sharing the spotlight with renowned artists like US artist Jenny Holzer and German musician Blixa Bargeld. Currently residing between Berlin and Stockholm, Ghayath Almadhoun continues to capture hearts with his emotive and compelling verses.

Ghayath Almadhoun, seorang penyair berbakat yang lahir di Damaskus pada 1979, menapaki sebuah perjalanan luar biasa dari Palestina ke Syria, hingga pada akhirnya berlabuh di rumah barunya di Swedia pada 2008. Kebolehan puitiknya telah mengganjarnya dengan berbagai pengakuan di seluruh dunia, dengan berbagai kumpulan puisi yang telah diterjemahkan ke dalam berbagai bahasa. Kolaborasi artistik Ghayath telah memperkaya karya-karyanya, berbagi panggung dengan para seniman ternama seperti seniman Amerika Serikat Jenny Holzer dan musisi Jerman Blixa Bargeld. Kini membagai waktunya antara Berlin dan Stockholm, Ghayath Almadhoun selalu membuat para pembacanya jatuh hati dengan syair-syairnya yang emosional dan menyita perhatian.

Miles Merrill is the founder of Australian Poetry Slam, an international performing writers’ program, which sees thousands of writers performing in events across the Asia-Pacific every year. Miles is also the author of Slam Your Poetry-How to Write a Revolution. Although Merrill publishes his poetry in print, audio, and video, he is best experienced live. As Creative Director of the literary organization Word Travels, Miles focuses on empowering people from diverse communities to share their stories with the world.

Miles Merrill adalah pendiri Australian Poetry Slam, sebuah program penulis pertunjukan internasional, yang menampilkan ribuan penulis tampil di berbagai acara di Asia-Pasifik setiap tahun. Miles juga penulis Slam Your Poetry-How to Write a Revolution. Meskipun Merrill menerbitkan puisinya dalam bentuk cetak, audio, dan video, ia sangat menarik saat melihat langsung. Sebagai direktur kreatif organisasi sastra Word Travels, Miles berfokus pada pemberdayaan orang-orang dari berbagai komunitas untuk berbagi cerita mereka dengan dunia.

Susie Anderson's literary endeavors emanate from a place of compassion and resistance, defining her as a prolific poet and nonfiction writer. Her words have graced various esteemed online and print platforms, including Archer, Artist Profile, Artlink, un magazine, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, and multiple poetry anthologies. Recognized as a runner-up in the Overland Poetry Prize in 2018, Susie's talent has been acknowledged with the Emerging Writer's Fellowship at State Library Victoria. She proudly holds a 2021 black&write! Fellowship, using her position as a digital producer in the arts and creative industries across Sydney, London, and Melbourne to amplify stories from her community and beyond. Descended from the Wergaia and Wemba Wemba peoples of Western Victoria, Susie currently resides on Boon Wurrung land in Melbourne, striving to evoke positive change through her writing and professional practice.

Susie Anderson adalah seorang penulis yang karya-karyanya memancar dari rasa belas kasih dan perlawanan, membuat ia dikenal sebagai seorang penyair dan penulis nonfiksi yang sangat produktif. Untaian kata-katanya telah menghiasi berbagai wadah daring dan cetak seperti Archer, Artist Profile, Artlink, un magazine, Growing Up Aboriginal In Australlia, juga berbagai kumpulan puisi. Mendapatkan pengakuan sebagai juara kedua Overland Poetry Prize 2018, bakat Susie mendapatkan pengakuan melalui Emerging Writer’s Fellowship di State Library Victoria. Ia bangga atas pencapaiannya mendapatkan black&write! fellowship 2021, menggunakan jabatannya sebagai produser digital untuk industri kesenian dan kreatif di sepenjuru Sydney, London dan Melbourne untuk menggaungkan cerita-cerita dari dalam dan luar komunitasnya. Merupakan keturunan masyarakat Wergaia dan Wemba Wemba dari Western Victoria, Susie kini menetap di lahan Boon Wurrung di Melbourne, berusaha untuk memicu perubahan positif melalui tulisan-tulisan serta kerja profesionalnya.

Theoresia Rumthe, an Indonesian poet, is also a public speaking instructor and organizer of the Spice Mountain music stage, Aroma Dendang Sahaja. Her impressive collection of poetry includes books like The Wildest Places on Earth from 2016, Uncreative Ways to Love from 2018, Welcome, The Moon from 2019, and The Longest Conversation About Coming Home from 2021. Born in Ambon and having lived in Bandung for many years, Theoresia Rumthe has now returned home and settled in the city of Ambon, continuing to share his poetic talents with the world.

Theoresia Rumthe, seorang penyair Indonesia, juga adalah instruktur public speaking dan penyelenggara pentas musik Spice Mountain, Aroma Dendang Sahaja. Ia memilliki sejumlah kumpulan puisi yang mengagumkan, termasuk buku-buku seperti The Wildest Places on Earth dari 2016, Uncreative Ways to Love dari 2018, Welcome, The Moon dari 2019, and The Longest Conversation About Coming Home dari 2021. Lahir di Ambon dan telah tinggal di Bandung selama beberapa tahun, Theoresia Rumthe kini telah pulang ke daerah asalnya dan menetap di kota Ambon, sambil terus berbagi bakat puitiknya dengan dunia.

Oli Chang is a New York-based music producer and composer. His sound is inspired by nature and ranges from the neoclassical style of Nils Frahm to the soaring melodies of Thom Yorke. Through infectious vocal hooks and cinematic textures, Oli Chang's music will ignite your inner animal instincts. ANIMAL FEELINGS is the latest musical experiment by New York-based artist Oli Chang. From introspective piano pieces to sprawling anthems, ANIMAL FEELINGS spans a spectrum from ambient soundscapes to unexpected electronic drops. This year, he performed in Mexico City's famous art car MAXA after the temple burn, closed the GGarbicz Festival in Poland, and played the piano for the entire Summer Contrast Festival in Poland as its final effigy burned.

Oli Chang adalah seorang produser dan komponis yang menetap di New York. Suara-suara yang ia ciptakan terinspirasi oleh alam dan memiliki jangkauan pengaruh yang luas, mulai dari gaya neoklasikal Nils Frahm hingga melodi Thom Yorke yang melonjak. Melalui ngait vokal dan tekstur sinematik yang menular, musik Oli Chang akan memantik naluri kebinatangan dalam diri Anda. ANIMAL FEELINGS adalah eksperimen musikal terbaru dari seniman Oli Chang yang tinggal di New York. Mulai dari berbagai gubahan piano introspektif hingga lagu pujian yang berserakan, ANIMAL FEELINGS mencakup spektrum yang luas, mulai dari bentangan suara ambien hingga tetesan elektro yang tidak disangka-sangka. Tahun ini, ia tampil di mobil seni Mexico City MAXA yang terkenal, setelah puri tersebut terbakar, menutup festival GGarbicz di Polandia sambil menyaksikan patung terakhirnya terbakar.