Bandung, 1 October 2025 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, encouraged greater government involvement in policy-making and marketing to develop the visual arts and photography subsectors, aiming for sustainability and significant contribution to the national economy. The remarks were made during a discussion with creative economy practitioners at Orbital Dago, Bandung, on Monday, 29 September 2025.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, attended a discussion with creative economy activists at Orbital Dago, Bandung, on Monday (September 29, 2025).
“In line with the President’s mandate, there should be no more sectoral egos between ministries, and collaboration is a must. The Ministry of Creative Economy’s role is to make policies for the 17 subsectors under its umbrella. We also focus on marketing and distribution to drive the economy so that it becomes sustainable, not merely transactional,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene.
She also emphasized that art is invaluable, as each artist has their own ideals. The visual arts and photography subsectors must be provided with exhibition spaces or galleries so that each work can reach a broad audience.
“Art is not a commodity to be bought and sold. It is something to be enjoyed and to trigger thought in every individual. Artistic works can express inner realities to reach the public. In marketing terms, this relates to branding positioning, meaning that every creative economy practitioner should also have an entrepreneurial spirit,” added Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene.
Doc. Communication Berau of Ministry Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
This discussion was part of the Bandung Photography Triennale, which showcases paintings exploring human relationships with synthetic imagery, impacting identity, politics, and perception in an increasingly digitized and automated visual landscape.
“We hope our peers continue to promote creative works from Bandung. In the future, schools and universities should encourage young generations to visit galleries, observe, and learn from multiple perspectives,” said Rifky Goro, curator of the exhibition.
Since the 2010s, Bandung has hosted major events like the Bandung Photography Triennale, positioning the city as an epicenter of contemporary art with cross-disciplinary collaborations. The event also serves as a meeting space for photography communities, not merely hobby groups, but part of a global contemporary art ecosystem characterized by critical, experimental, and open approaches.
Doc. Communication Berau of Ministry Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
After the discussion, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene, accompanied by Sub-Director of Fashion Marketing and Commercialization, Dessy Widowati, visited Bandung Photography Triennale 2025, themed “Synthetic Vision”. The exhibition explores an era where the boundaries between reality and fabrication are increasingly blurred, as visual technology evolves beyond representation into complex constructions shaped by synthesis, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. The visit continued with a stop at Orbital Dago Merchandise and a meal at Warung Gati.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Bureau of Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
