Jakarta, 21 July 2025 — The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency supports the Nyala: 200 Years of the Diponegoro War exhibition organized by the Ministry of Culture at the National Gallery of Indonesia. Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar emphasized that history is an important source of inspiration for the development of cross-media intellectual property that remains relevant for today’s generation.
“Doc. Bureau for Communication – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar Attends the NYALA: 200 Years of the Diponegoro War Exhibition; the Ministry of Creative Economy Encourages History to Become an Inspiration for Competitive Local IP, Jakarta, Monday (21/07/2025).”
“This exhibition proves that history is not only something to be remembered, but can also be brought to life through creative works that are relevant to the times. The artists and curators involved are creative economy practitioners, and this is concrete evidence that art is a powerful medium to connect the past and the future,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar on Monday, 21 July 2025.
The Nyala: 200 Years of the Diponegoro War exhibition is presented by the Ministry of Culture through the Museum and Cultural Heritage Directorate and runs until 15 September 2025. The exhibition is part of the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia as well as marking two centuries since the outbreak of the Java War (1825–1830), a monumental event that symbolizes resistance against colonialism.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar emphasized that art and history are two important foundations in the development of creative economy subsectors. She also sees significant potential in the story of the Diponegoro War to be developed into intellectual property (IP) that can reach across media platforms and generations.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
“Through cross-sector synergy, historical narratives such as the Diponegoro War can inspire the creation of games, films, and visual works that appeal to younger generations. This is the strength of the creative economy—not only preserving culture, but developing it into something living and competitive,” said the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that the Diponegoro War was one of the largest wars in Indonesian history. He expressed appreciation to the artists and curators involved in the exhibition. According to him, the exhibition is not merely a reminder of history, but also an invitation for younger generations to actively engage—not only as audiences, but as creators who transform traces of the past into inspiration for contemporary works.
Doc. Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
“We are present here not only to remember the physical flame of the Diponegoro War, but also the cultural flame—the spirit of resistance, identity, and nationhood. Through artworks and historical artifacts, we can convey the values of struggle once again to younger generations. This exhibition is a living learning space, and I invite young people to come, explore, and learn from this exhibition,” said Minister of Culture Fadli Zon.
Also attending the opening of the exhibition were Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha; Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan; Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Lestari Moerdijat; Head of the State Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Muhammad Herindra; and Head of the National Library Raminudin Ajiz.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
