Jakarta, July 20, 2025 — Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar expressed her appreciation to local photographers for showcasing Indonesian culture through touching visual media. Deputy Minister Irene also encouraged local photographers to continue presenting their works in public spaces.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf - Wamenekraf Irene Umar dorong Fotografer lokal semakin percaya diri pamerkan karya ke publik, Jakarta, Minggu (20/072025).
“Through the photos at this exhibition, I see the sincerity of the photographers—the warmth and love radiating from each work. This is the true strength of Indonesia. Our tourist destinations are not only visually beautiful but also have emotional power that can touch anyone’s heart. So, thank you very much to SK-ART for organizing this event,” said Deputy Minister Irene at the opening of the SK-ART & Friends: The Colors of Art photo exhibition at DOSS Megastore, Ratu Plaza, Jakarta, on Saturday, July 20, 2025.
“The Ministry of Creative Economy is ready to open up access for Indonesian photography to capture places across the country, both above ground and underground, and to act as a ‘matchmaker’ with public spaces not only in Indonesia but also abroad,” added Deputy Minister Irene.
In this exhibition entitled The Colors of Art, guests and participants were invited to tour the venue and view 75 photography works by 65 photographers from the SK-ART (Sebastian Kisworo-ART) community. Various themes were presented, ranging from culture and religion to film characters and performing arts.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf.
“Many creative economy fighters in photography actually have extraordinary works that could become a source of passive income. However, many are still hesitant to showcase their works for fear of plagiarism or lack of appreciation. In fact, by daring to exhibit them, they can open up greater opportunities. This proves that creative works can become the new engine of growth for Indonesia, not only for the present but also for the future through long-term royalty potential,” stated Deputy Minister Irene.
As part of synergy with the government, the event also featured Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (Minister PAN-RB) Rini Widyantini—who also participated with her photography works on display—alongside Presidential Special Staff for Creative Economy Yovie Widianto. Yovie highlighted that the soul reflected in the photographers’ works is an irreplaceable strength.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf.
“Just like in music, I am used to arranging notes, orchestration, and compositions in detail, and I see the same in these photography works. From composition to detail, everything is arranged with a strong spirit and soul. Technology like AI can help with precision, but cannot replace the human element. Sometimes, it is imperfection that makes a work feel alive. Too much artificial perfection can even strip a work of its soul,” explained Yovie.
The photo exhibition The Colors of Art, an initiative of the SK-ART photography community in collaboration with DOSS Megastore Ratu Plaza, runs from July 5 to 27, 2025. As part of the series of events on Sunday (July 20), the exhibition also hosted a talk show entitled SK-ART Travelmates’ Experience, featuring inspiring speakers—senior photographers who are ‘alumni’ of the Kota Tua photography community—namely Hardijanto Budiman, Fajar Kristiono, and Ve Dhanito.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf.
Sebastian Kisworo, Founder and Curator of SK-ART, expressed his hope that the Ministry of Creative Economy’s presence at the exhibition would strengthen the bridge of collaboration between local photographers and the government.
“We hope to gain more recognition from the government so that photography practitioners can receive facilitation, not only in terms of exhibition venues but also so that our events can gain greater engagement and wider impact,” said Sebastian.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf/Bekraf.|
Through this exhibition, SK-ART aims to show that photography is not merely a hobby but an art form capable of voicing values, culture, and love for Indonesia.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
