Ayu Utami Author

Ayu Utami is regarded as one of Indonesia’s most groundbreaking writers, particularly for the way she addresses sex and religion in her work. Her writing explores issues of sexuality from a woman’s perspective.

Saman (1998), her first novel, won the Jakarta Arts Council’s Best Novel Competition. Among her other major works are Bilangan Fu (2008), which received the 2008 Khatulistiwa Literary Award, and, most recently, Anatomi Rasa (2019). In recognition of her contribution to literature, Ayu Utami received the Prince Claus Award in 2000 from the Netherlands-based Prince Claus Fund, which honours individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to culture.

Ayu Utami is a co-founder of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and helped establish the Utan Kayu Community, a centre for the arts, ideas and freedom of information. She currently serves as a literary curator and director of the Literature and Ideas Festival (LIFEs) at the Salihara Community, and as programme director of Utan Kayu Theatre.