Tierra Viva Exhibition: Photography Becomes A Bridge For Indonesian Cultural Diplomacy Latin America

Fadli Zon while attending the Tierra Viva collective photography exhibition; Cultures and Colors of Latin America at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta. (IST)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Culture together with eight Latin American embassies presented a collective photography exhibition of Tierra Viva; Cultures and Colors of Latin America at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, Monday, September 8. The exhibition, which lasts until September 28, is not just a visual suggestion, but a strong symbol of cross-border collaboration in strengthening cultural diplomacy.

Tierra Viva which means land that lives presents a portrait of cultural diversity from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay. Each photo records the traces of life, from nature to tradition, which not only represents identity, but also brings together universal human values.

The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, who opened this exhibition, emphasized the government's support for concrete cultural diplomacy. "We are proud to support the holding of Tierra Viva at the National Gallery, one of the cultural landmarks under the Indonesian Heritage Agency. This exhibition is a bridge that brings us closer and opens new collaboration spaces at the same time," he said.

Peru's Ambassador to Indonesia, Luis Tsuboyama, said photography was capable of becoming a collective language. "We complete important milestones, present cultural narratives that are not only unique, but also connect each other," he said.

The exhibition curator, Ayos Purwoaji, added that there is a common thread between Indonesia and Latin America. Both here and there, we find similarities: textiles, indigenous peoples, to the story of everyday life," he explained.

Eight cross-border photographers participated, including Angela Rincon (Colombia), Luis Fabini (Uruguay), to Nora Iniesta (Argentina). Their works feature the faces of Latin America: from the Uruguay gauchos which are described as free travelers, to the city of Cuenca in Ecuador which UNESCO recognizes as a World Cultural Heritage.

In addition to photo exhibitions, a series of discussions and screenings of Latin American films are also held every weekend. The presence of ambassadors of friendly countries at the opening reinforces the message that culture can surpass political and geographical barriers.

Through Tierra Viva, Indonesia together with Latin America emphasized that photography is not just art, but a diplomatic language that unites civilization.