Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that arts and culture serve as a unifying force, especially in a world increasingly marked by conflict and division.

“Arts and culture are a binding power, a uniting force. Politics often divides us, sometimes even leading to conflict and war. But art and culture bring us together,” Fadli said in an official statement on Sunday.

Speaking at the opening of a painting exhibition presented by the SBY Art Community at 25 Hours Hotel The Oddbird in Jakarta on Saturday (Sept. 6), Fadli said art exhibitions are more than just platforms for creative expression —they are living proof that cultural and artistic activity endures, regardless of circumstances.

“Even in challenging times, we continue to pursue our artistic and cultural endeavors. And this exhibition’s theme ‘Art for Peace’ is especially relevant in a world facing so many anomalies,” he noted.

Fadli further explained that the artworks on display reflect the contribution of cultural figures to the global peace movement.

Titled Art for Peace and a Better Future, the exhibition embodies a spirit of collaboration, reflection, and hope for a more peaceful world.

“Through these artworks, particularly paintings, the artists are expressing their visions of peace, visions that are sketched, carved, and captured on canvas,” Fadli said.

Also present at the event was Indonesia’s sixth President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, founder of the SBY Art Community. He expressed hope that the exhibition would stand as a symbol of solidarity among artists committed to peace.

“Through our artwork, we want to show that artists care about the pressing issues of life, both in our own country and across the globe,” Yudhoyono said.

The Art for Peace and a Better Future exhibition is a collaborative effort between the SBY Art Community and four major arts institutions: the Faculty of Art and Design at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Surakarta, ISI Yogyakarta, and Jakarta Institute of Arts (IKJ), along with four independent professional painters.

Running from September 6 to October 5, 2025, the exhibition serves as both an educational and creative space, promoting messages of peace and hope for a better future.

The exhibition features 30 individual paintings and a large collaborative piece created by members of the SBY Art Community at the Lavani Cikeas Sports Complex.

The exhibition was officially opened with a symbolic gesture: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and several distinguished guests each made the first brushstrokes on a blank canvas. That canvas will later be developed into a finished artwork by members of the SBY Art Community.

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