Indonesia wants to cement cultural ties with Pakistan

By Mahtab Bashir

ISLAMABAD: Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia on Thursday organised Indonesian Cultural Exhibition & Skill Development Workshops at National Art Gallery (NAG) in collaboration with the National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The exhibition of calligraphy and workshops aimed to enhance cultural relationships between Indonesia and Pakistan to promote skill development in creative industries.

Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal was the chief guest on the occasion, who inaugurated the exhibition. Indonesian Ambassador Ishak Latuconsina and Mrs Butar Latuconsina were also present on the occasion. Diplomatic community, government officials, members of the civil society and students took keen interest in the exhibition.

Batik was one of the prominent features during the event. It is one of the most popular Indonesian arts. It is an ancient textile art of applying dyes to porous surfaces. Batik has been both an art and a craft for centuries. To present true colours and exquisite expressions of these exclusive Indonesian rich art forms, the embassy invited highly professional and renowned Batik masters and calligraphers from Indonesia.

Batik Exhibition, Batik painting, Batik art demonstration on cloth and wood, and Calligraphy exhibition and workshops of Indonesian and Pakistani artists featured the three-day long mega colourful event.

The participants for Batik and calligraphy workshops were selected by NAVTEC from different universities, colleges and fine arts institutions. The exhibition and the workshops also provided a unique opportunity to the participants to learn the centuries-old Indonesian famous arts of Batik making and calligraphy.

Over 150 calligraphy paintings by Indonesia and Pakistani artists were put on display.

The Indonesian calligraphy has its own unique touch, which makes it different from others. Indonesian calligraphies were developed on different surfaces such as canvas, walls and leather.

Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal said this exhibition would help promote cultural exchange between the two counties. “The government is committed to developing skilled programmes and human resources to make vocational workshops successful,” Gondal said.

Indonesian Ambassador Ishak Latuconsina said Indonesia-Pakistan friendship was rooted in shared values, mutual understandings and similarities in culture. “It is important that we should constantly enhance this cultural relationship, which is why we have organised this exhibition,” he said.

He said it was a matter of pleasure that Batik had recently been added to the Representative List of UNESCO’s World Intangible Cultural Heritage by recognising Indonesia as the original rightful owner of this exclusive art form. “Besides, the exhibition also demonstrate the artistic talent of the Pakistani artists, whose beautiful work of calligraphy is on display for your interest,” he said.

NAVTEC Chairman Adnan A Khawaja and Executive Director Athar Tahir said over 100,000 persons had benefited from different skilled programme initiated by NAVTEC. “We feel proud to have Indonesia as our partner to enhance and exchange cultural and educational programmes through skill development,” they said.

The exhibition and workshops will continue at NAG till October 17, while in Lahore it will be held at Alhamra Arts Council on October 19-20.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\16\story_16-10-2009_pg11_6