HALL OF FAME

REMY SYLADO ARTS AND LITERATURE DOYEN

To classify Remy Sylado, with given name of Yapi Panda Abdiel Tambayong, as a poet or a writer is an oversimplification of his skilful masteries in the art world. This art graduate started his career as a journalist in 1965 before foraying into the theatre world by founding the Teater 23761 group. The critical yet humorous personality found in his works led to the birth of the mbeling literary movement. Seen as a creative way to break free from established norms in literature, Sylado’s mbeling poems both gained many critics and fans alike. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was busy writing music and acting for movies, heading local newspapers and magazines, producing theatre works and poetries, and going into novels.

Entering the New Millenium after the fall of Suharto, Sylado productively wrote thickly-bound historical fictions each year. He is a thorough researcher who would go on journeys as his characters would all around the globe. Sylado’s search for historical and etymological origins also lent distinct edges for his works, such as the Kerudung Merah Kirmizi that won the prestigious Khatulistiwa Literary Award in 2002. Sylado’s literary prowess have spanned at least 50 novels, 30 stage works and thousands of poems—not to mention 13 music albums created. His Kerygma & Martyria book of 1,000 poetries received an honour from The Indonesia World Records Museum for being the thickest book of poems.