Jakarta, August 18, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, attended the Pinisi Nusantara ceremony, a 1:1-scale Pinisi ship installation that combines art, culture, creativity, and sustainability principles. The 12 x 6-meter artwork, displayed at Pacific Place, Jakarta, is a collaboration between Dus Duk Duk, Erika Richardo, and Pacific Place Mall.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar (center), with Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha (third from left) during the opening of Pinisi Nusantara at Pacific Place Mall, Jakarta, Tuesday (August 18, 2026
The installation was constructed using more than 1,000 sheets of cardboard made from recycled fibers. Inspired by Pinisi, one of Indonesia’s maritime heritages, the artwork highlights the values of mutual cooperation, cultural identity, and the spirit of innovation through a creative approach that takes sustainability into consideration.
The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy said Pinisi Nusantara demonstrates how cultural heritage can be translated into contemporary works without losing its inherent values. Collaboration among creative practitioners also demonstrates that the development of the creative economy can go hand in hand with efforts to utilize materials in a more responsible manner.
“This is not the first collaboration between the Government and creative economy champions such as Erika and Dus Duk Duk. So, this is not only something creative, beautiful, aesthetic, and useful, but also something where sustainability is put into practice. These are young people who are champions of the creative economy; this is a collaborative effort,” said Irene at Pacific Place, Jakarta, Tuesday (August 18).
Designed as an interactive and immersive experience, the installation invites visitors not only to observe but also to explore various parts of the ship. The combination of materials, forms, and spaces is designed to bring people closer to the stories and values embodied in Indonesia’s maritime heritage.
The presence of Pinisi Nusantara coincides with the 81st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. The occasion also serves as a collaborative space to strengthen the spirit of creativity and pride in national identity through an approach that is relevant to the development of today’s creative industries.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We always say that our biggest unique selling point (USP), our biggest advantage, lies in our culture. Only Indonesia has such extraordinary cultural diversity stretching from Sabang to Merauke. We do not need to copy anyone; we must take pride in our own culture. The task of the creative economy is to make sure our culture remains relevant to Indonesian youth while staying cool and exciting for the international world,” said Irene.
This collaboration continues the work of Dus Duk Duk and Erika Richardo in 2025, which featured a 1:10-scale cardboard airplane installation themed around Indonesia as part of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
CEO of Dus Duk Duk Arief Susanto said the installation was born from the spirit of the young people at Dus Duk Duk to represent culture, creativity, and sustainability through the exploration of cardboard materials made from 100 percent recycled fibers. The installation will be on display until September 5, 2026.
“I have always believed that this installation is a dedication to destiny, so to speak, that could never have found its place anywhere ordinary. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported us, starting with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Creative Economy, and, of course, the Ministry of Tourism. This has been extraordinary moral support for all of us. And this is our installation, representing creativity, culture, art, and our shared commitment to sustainability,” said Arief.
Erika Richardo said that Pinisi is one of Indonesia’s cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO. She hopes the installation will not only inspire the public but also serve as a means of introducing Indonesian art and culture, particularly to children and mothers.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We chose Pinisi as the subject of the painting because, as you can see, it follows the shape and position of the map of Indonesia. From the far right, which is Papua, to the far left, which is Sumatra, it is all filled with Indonesian culture,” said Erika.
Also in attendance were Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumariyo; Deputy Minister for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism Ni Made Ayu Marthini; Director of Cultural Values Empowerment and Intellectual Property Facilitation of the Ministry of Culture I Made Dharma Suteja; as well as representatives of Pacific Place.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
