Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and ASFA. Cooperation in the Balinese traditional wooden arts on the Hellenes olive tree for the 75th relationship between Indonesia and Greece in 2024
Υλοποίηση workshop παραδοσιακής ξυλογλυπτικής από το Μπαλί ,με υλικό ξύλο ελιάς (600 κιλά / ύψος 2,40), στο πλαίσιο του εορτασμού 75 χρόνων διπλωματικών σχέσεων Ινδονησίας- Ελλάδας. Ιούλιος- Οκτώβριος 2024.
PRESS RELEASE
Balinese Wood Carving Collaboration Adorns 75 Years of Indonesia-Greece Relations
Athens, Greece – In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the strong ties between Indonesia and Greece, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Athens proudly presents a masterpiece of traditional Balinese wood carving in a workshop titled “Balinese Traditional Wooden Arts on the Hellenes Olive Tree”. This event is part of the “Indonesia Expo 2024.” To bring this masterpiece to life, the Indonesian Embassy in Athens is collaborating with the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar, which has sent two of its finest artists, I Made Nyoman Sumantra and I Made Nyoman Suparta. They will create a 2.4-meter-tall wooden sculpture using olive wood, an iconic symbol of Greece.
These Balinese artists will depict episodes from the epic Ramayana, focusing on two key scenes that reflect the themes of friendship and loyalty. I Made Nyoman Sumantra explained, “In the Ramayana, there are scenes that portray the eternal friendship between Rama and Hanoman, and others that depict the loyalty between Rama and Shinta, as well as between Hanoman and Rama.” Through this work, they hope the friendship between Indonesia and Greece will endure, “just like the relationship between Rama and Hanoman, where Hanoman remained loyal to Rama through both joy and sorrow,” said I Made Nyoman Sumantra. The artists also hope that this artwork will introduce the beauty of Indonesian wood carving to the world.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Greece, Bebeb AKN Djunjunan, highlighted the significance of this event as a key element in promoting Indonesia’s rich culture in Greece. “Through this artwork, we aim to deepen the appreciation of Indonesian culture among the Greek people and to further strengthen the warm ties that have united our nations for 75 years,” he expressed.
The use of olive wood as a carving medium is unique and has never before been used in Indonesia. This experience presents a new challenge for the two artists from Bali. I Made Sumantra noted that olive wood shares similar characteristics with the frangipani tree in Indonesia, although the differences in density and fiber composition of olive wood present their own challenges during the carving process.
Currently, the tree cleaning and global model sculpting process is taking place at the Athens School of Fine Arts, the oldest and most prestigious art institution in Greece. The sculpture is expected to be completed and ready for display by the end of September 2024. Upon completion, this artwork will be symbolically presented by the people of Indonesia to the people of Greece through the Greek Parliament. The artwork will then be placed in the Parliament building, where it will be accessible to the public and stand as a symbol of the deep friendship between Indonesia and Greece.
The support and collaboration of various parties are crucial in making this event a reality. Theon S.A., a company with close ties to Indonesia, is also fully supporting this collaboration as part of the celebration of the relationship between the two countries.
As part of the 75th anniversary celebration of Indonesia-Greece relations, following this wood carving project, there will also be artistic collaborations between contemporary painters from both countries. These events are expected to further enliven the celebrations and strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.
