“This initiative aims to further introduce and promote his artworks to the Indonesian public and the global community. I also had the opportunity to meet with members of Hatem El Makki’s family,” the minister noted in a statement received here on Friday.
During a meeting with Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohamad Trabelsi, ahead of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Tunisia, Minister Zon also emphasized the need to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate cultural cooperation.
He noted that several sectors offer promising potential for cooperation, ranging from film production and co-productions to museums and other cultural initiatives.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Trabelsi highlighted the longstanding historical, cultural, and political ties between Tunisia and Indonesia.
“These ties trace back to President Soekarno’s support for Tunisia’s struggle for independence from French colonial rule and also the legacy of renowned Tunisian painter Hatem El Makki, born in Batavia on May 16, 1918. His works were deeply influenced by the visual landscapes of Indonesia’s tropical forests and batik patterns,” he remarked.
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The ambassador also agreed that the executive program needs to be updated to encourage cultural collaboration with more female artists.
He added that culture plays a role in developing other sectors, including the economy and investment, through cultural outreach.
Regarding cultural cooperation, Minister Zon earlier emphasized the potential for cultural collaboration between Indonesia and prominent Islamic figures from various countries, including those from member states of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
ICESCO, founded in 1979, is the world’s largest Islamic organization with 54 member states, focusing on education, science, culture, and communication.
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Translator: Sinta, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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