JAKARTA - The government considers that promoting Indonesian culture abroad cannot only rely on ceremonial events. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon received a visit from Werner Weiglein, founder of the Papua Museum in Gelnhausen, Germany, who for decades has collected and promoted the Nusantara cultural heritage in Europe. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Tuesday (24/2).
Weiglein is known as an observer of Indonesian culture who built the Papua Museum with a collection of Papuan ethnography which is considered important to introduce Indonesia to the international public. Fadli assessed that Weiglein's documentation efforts added value because they did not stop at collecting objects.
"He listed this collection and wrote it into a complete narrative," said Fadli. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture, Bambang Wibawarta, also appreciated the collection.
Weiglein started collecting cultural artifacts since the 1970s. In the 1980s, he traveled and expedition to a number of regions in Indonesia, including Sulawesi and Papua. He wrote and documented the experience as a record of the cultural traces he encountered.
During the meeting, Fadli also mentioned Weiglein's book titled Expeditionen durch Indonesien, which was written with Herwig Zahorka. The book combines photos and narratives about the social-cultural diversity of Indonesia. Weiglein emphasized that all the photos in the book were his personal documentation. "We can do more than this and all the photos in this book are my own photos," said Weiglein.
In addition to being active in culture, Weiglein is also known as the record holder for climbing to the Puncak Carstensz in the Jayawijaya Mountains 36 times, a fact that, for the government, shows his closeness to Indonesia is not just a formality.
The discussion was also attended by the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, Expert Staff of the Ministry of Culture for Economy and Industry Anindita Kusuma Listya, and Special Staff for Protocol and Household Rachmanda Primayuda.
Fadli emphasized that the government opened space for collaboration with international partners, including individuals who consistently promote Indonesia. "We also appreciate foreigners who have an interest and even promote Indonesia, Indonesian culture, to the world, to Germany, and also to other European regions," he concluded.
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