Jakarta, June 24, 2026 – Vice Minister of Creative Economy/Vice Chair of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, stated that Jepara’s renowned woodcarving art has significant potential to compete in international markets. However, she emphasized that strengthening the competitiveness of local creative products requires not only high-quality craftsmanship but also compelling storytelling, effective marketing strategies, and strong distribution networks.
Vice Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar receives representatives of TATAH, the organizer of the Jepara woodcarving art exhibition, at the Ministry of Creative Economy office in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Irene made the remarks while receiving representatives of TATAH, a Jepara woodcarving art exhibition initiative, at the Ministry of Creative Economy’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday (June 24).
“Indonesia’s cultural heritage is endlessly fascinating because it can always be viewed from different perspectives and told through different storylines. Jepara expresses this beautifully through the thought processes and narratives reflected in its carvings,” said Irene.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
She also highlighted the importance of developing a strong city branding strategy for Jepara. According to her, such efforts would further establish Jepara as Indonesia’s center of woodcarving art while encouraging younger generations to preserve and innovate upon a centuries-old tradition that has become an integral part of the region’s identity.
The meeting served as a follow-up to a previous visit and focused on accelerating the development of Jepara woodcarving as part of broader efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s craft subsector and creative economy ecosystem.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
TATAH is an art exhibition and curatorial initiative that showcases the evolution of Jepara’s woodcarving tradition. The program creates a platform for dialogue among curators, artists, researchers, industry players, and the public to deepen understanding of the cultural significance and economic potential of Jepara’s carving heritage.
The exhibition features 35 thematic woodcarving works from Jepara, ranging from furniture, sculptures, and reliefs to interior decorations and craft products. The diversity of the collection demonstrates the ability of Jepara’s artisans and artists to transform cultural heritage into creative products that remain relevant to contemporary markets.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Veronica Rompies, Executive Director of TATAH, explained that the exhibition tells the long historical narrative of Jepara as a meeting point of various civilizations and cultures. She noted that cross-sector collaboration has been fundamental to the initiative.
“TATAH was born from a unique collaboration involving artists, government institutions, industry associations, and historians. The exhibition serves as a catalyst to further elevate the profile of Jepara’s woodcarving art,” said Veronica.
Photo: Bureau of Communications, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The meeting was also attended by Hidayat Hendra Sasmita, Chair of the Jepara Raya Chapter of the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (HIMKI); Rengganis Widayanti, Secretary General of HIMKI Jepara Raya; members of the TATAH Art Management Team; and the HIMKI Jepara Raya Promotion Team. The Vice Minister was accompanied by Neli Yana, Director of Crafts at the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
