VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Japanese Embassy in collaboration with Mitra Seni Indonesia (MSI) held an Indonesian Art & Culture Exhibition entitled "Indonesia Dekat Di Hati" (Indonesia In My Heart). The exhibition was opened by Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masafumi Ishii at his official residence, Thursday, April 25 2019. At the opening of the exhibition, Ambassador Masafumi Ishii in his remarks, appreciated MSI's efforts to prepare works by Indonesian art masters to be exhibited at this exhibition. Ambassador Ishii said that, through this exhibition, visitors could learn about Indonesian art and its history through a collection of works of art that are very beautiful and rarely seen by most people.

“Well, I think relation is already very close, but I noted to maintain and strengthen it to the future, as in people to people, heart to heart relation is always important, where art can play the major role. And I do see some hints of a exchange interaction between Indonesian arts and Japanese arts. There is a lot of potential for future cooperation,” said Masafumi Ishii.

In an interview with the media after the opening ceremony of the exhibition, he said that the artwork displayed had similarities with Japanese artwork in several parts. The Ambassador admitted that he felt comfortable surrounded by these paintings. In this exhibition, there are around 50 selected paintings. Some of the paintings by Maestro Indonesia featured works by Basoeki Abdullah, Sudarso, Soedibio, Trubus Soedarsono, Ari Smit, Abdul Aziz, Popo Iskandar, Jeihan, Srihadi Soedarsono, Jokopekik, AD Pirous, Nyoman Gunarsa and Sunaryo. (VOI/IHSAN/AHM)