Her Excellency Irene Umar emphasises the importance of converting art into economic value at the opening of Urban Pulse – Spectrum of Contemporary Art in Jakarta, fostering stronger creative ties between Indonesia and Singapore.
On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Her Excellency Irene Umar, attended the opening of the “Urban Pulse – Spectrum of Contemporary Art in Singapore” exhibition at the World Trade Center 2 in Jakarta. Organised by the Embassy of Singapore in Indonesia, the event underscored the significance of transforming art into economic value to ensure its sustainability and bolster Indonesia’s creative economy.
In her speech, H.E. Irene Umar highlighted how Indonesia’s creative economy stakeholders could draw inspiration from Singapore’s success in converting visual art and cultural assets into economic opportunities, particularly in urban contexts. She stated, “This is a manifestation of what culture can bring. The creative economy will become a new growth engine for Indonesia’s economy, not only for the next five years but also in the long term. At the community and business levels, we can harness creativity and promote the mindset that art and creativity have inherent economic value.”
The exhibition showcased seven curated works by contemporary artists and served as a platform to strengthen diplomatic and creative collaborations between Indonesia and Singapore. H.E. Irene Umar expressed hope that Indonesian artists could leverage these relationships for knowledge exchange and opportunities to present their work internationally, as part of soft diplomacy efforts.
“We hope Indonesian artists can sit together, exchange ideas, and gain opportunities to showcase their work abroad, thereby fostering stronger connectivity between the two nations,” she added.
Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Kwok Fook Seng, reaffirmed the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries, both bilaterally and through ASEAN, stating, “Our relationship has always been close. With the establishment of the Ministry of Creative Economy, I look forward to working together to create a brighter future for our region.”
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Her Excellency Penny Williams, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, and Isa Art and Design Founder and President, Deborah Iskandar. H.E. Irene Umar was accompanied by Acting Deputy for Culture-Based Creativity and Design, Yuke Sri Rahayu, from the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Republic of Indonesia
