ABOUT
Julang is an initiative built upon a literacy and creativity ecosystem—a cross-cultural, cross-generational network, a shared arena for advancing civilization and the life of the mind.
The rise of information and digital technologies has created a boundless landscape for literacy and creativity. This new era challenges each initiative to nurture instinct, intellect, and conscience—values that must continually adapt to the changing times.
Julang designs its literacy and creativity ecosystem as an open arena: one that bridges disciplines, cultures, and generations. Offering the widest possible support for the creation, circulation, and appreciation of creative works is at the heart of everything we do.
We all walk towards anonymity, only that the mediocre ones arrive a little earlier
Jorge Luis Borges
Behind Julang
Dorothea Rosa Herliany
Dorothea Rosa Herliany
An Indonesian literary figure who has written more than 30 books, including poetry collections, short story collections, novels, biographies, children’s books, and more. She is also a publisher. In 1999, she founded a publishing house in Yogyakarta and has remained active in the field ever since. Dorothea’s works have received numerous awards, including from the Jakarta Arts Council (2000), the Language Center of the Republic of Indonesia (2003), the Art Award from the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia (2004), the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa (2006 & 2015), and the Cultural Award from the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X (2002), S.E.A. (South East Asian) Writers Award from the Kingdom of Thailand (2025).
On the international stage, her achievements are reflected in several residency grants she has received, such as from Australia: Asialink, La Trobe University, Monash University; the United States: US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Japan: Toyota Foundation; Germany: Heinrich Böll Stiftung, DAAD/Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst; the Netherlands: Stichting, Poets of All Nations / International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden University; Switzerland: The Kulturhaus Villa Sträuli. In addition, her poetry books have been published in London, Kill the Radio (2007), and in Germany, Hochzeit der Messer / Nikah Pisau (2015). She has also been invited to speak at international literary festivals in Australia, Japan, Middle East, Greece, South Africa, and Europe.
Gunawan BS
Gunawan Budi Susilo
He began writing in mass media in 1995, then continued working in the fields of publishing, journalism, and as a producer for television programs, documentary films, as well as fiction films.
He has received program scholarships and workshops from the Ministry of Education and Culture (2007), the Goethe Institute (2007), and Deutsche Welle Akademie, Germany (2008). Since 2008, he has written dozens of television documentary film scripts and more than 15 fiction film scripts, including the television series Catatan Seorang Jurnalis, Bumi & Manusia, and Ayat-Ayat Santri (tvOne, 2010–2025), as well as the feature film Wage (2017) — a biopic of national hero W.R. Supratman.
He has been involved in the production of award-winning documentary films and television programs, including: Institut Kesenian Jakarta (2007), Konfiden (2007), Sampoerna Adiwarta (2010), Mochtar Lubis Award (2011), Finalist of Anugerah Adiwarta (2012), Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia Award (2013), Denpasar Film Festival (2016), Finalist of AFI (2016), GIPI-Babel Award (2018), Finalist of the Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia Award (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), Special Award from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (2025), and many others.
Gus tf Sakai
Gus tf Sakai
Gus tf Sakai, who writes poetry under the name Gus tf, began his creative journey through drawing and writing poems in his diary, although his first published work was a short story in 1979. In the early stages of his writing career, he actively joined writing competitions and won more than 50 of them—covering poetry, short stories, novelettes, novels, and essays—in various print media and literary institutions.
To date, he has published 17 books, several of which have received awards such as the Lontar Literary Award (2001), the Language Center Literary Award (2002), and the SEA Write Award (2004) from the Kingdom of Thailand for his short story collection Kemilau Cahaya dan Perempuan Buta; the Reader’s Choice Award for Best Fiction from Ruang Baca of Koran Tempo (2007) and the Khatulistiwa Literary Award (2007) for his short story collection Perantau; and the Indonesian Poetry Day Award in the Selected Poem category (2015) for his poetry collection Susi.
In addition, he has received several other recognitions, including the Literary Award from the Faculty of Letters, Andalas University (2002), the Sih Award from Puisi journal (2002), the Tuah Sakato Award from Governor of West Sumatra (2008), the Dedicated Writer Award from Kompas daily (2010), and several other awards.
Kemilau Cahaya dan Perempuan Buta was translated into English under the title The Barber and Other Short Stories and published by the Lontar Foundation (2002). The same foundation also published his selected short story collection Night’s Disappearance (2015) as part of the Modern Library of Indonesia series.
