Courtesy of UWRF
8-17 October, 2021
Over nine days from 8–17 October 2021, the long-awaited Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) comes back to life with a theme of Mulat Sarira, or Self-Reflection.
Held in the balmy uplands of Bali, Indonesia, the festival features more than 100 international guest artists, and will explore cultural introspection, human rights, who we are, unity and division, and what drives us to do what we do.
Tranquil Ubud. Courtesy of UWRF
“We have been shaped by a new (Covid) normal and human values of care, cooperation and compassion have been brought to the forefront,” says UWRF director Janet DeNeefe. “So this year’s theme invites conversations from literary luminaries, emerging writers, activists, academics and journalists - they will discuss the importance of self-reflection and how the power of storytelling can connect us across cultures,” she explains.
The 2021 Festival will feature a wide range of local, national and international emerging and established writers, artists, and activists. They will explain how Mulat Sarira relates to their work, storytelling, artistic processes, and their shared human experiences.
Oka Rusmini. Courtesy of UWRF.
Session leaders include award-winning international female poet Oka Rusmini, acclaimed Balinese artist Teja Astawa, and Indonesian novelist Cynthia Dewi Oka. Amongst other issues, they will demonstrate how female voices in literature reflect current important and complex issues.
There will also be an intensive five-day writing workshop for emerging writers and a workshop from internationally acclaimed photographer Mayank Austen Soofi on the power of pictures when words are just not enough.
“Through cross-cultural, diverse perspectives based on the Balinese-Hindu principle of Mulat Sarira,” says DeNeefe, “ we will explore self-reflection and global introspection, and (learn) lessons … to take with us into the future.”
For more information on the Festival, go to https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com.