CSR-CMR welcomed the director of Alliance Française (AF) Semarang (Mrs. Kiki Martaty Widjaja), along with its foundation head (Mrs. Elis Rahardjo), to discuss the possibility of collaboration between the institutions on various programs, particularly related to Indonesia-French connections. The programs include visiting French students to SWCU, research projects on the French legacy in Indonesia, French language training, and seminars, among others.
One of the proposed collaborative programs discussed in the meeting was the “Arthur Rimbaud Project,” which includes research, an exhibition, a seminar, and a city tour to trace Rimbaud’s legacy in Salatiga. This program is also expected to be supported by the French embassy in Indonesia and the Salatiga municipal government.
Arthur Rimbaud (his full name is Jean Nicholas Arthur Rimbaud) was a famous French poet in the 19th century, known for his transgressive and surreal themes and for his influence on modern literature and arts, prefiguring surrealism. According to some sources, Rimbaud, who initially joined the Dutch army (Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger) before becoming a deserter, landed in Batavia and then traveled to Semarang and Salatiga for a while.
Rimbaud’s footsteps in Salatiga require great attention not only from historians but also from poets, researchers, academics, and governments, particularly the Salatiga municipal administration and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture.