Use Artworks to Unite the Nation and All Ethnic Groups in Indonesia, President Jokowi Says

A dance performance before a public lecture by President Jokowi during the 15th Dies Natalis of ISI Denpasar, on Saturday (23/6) (Photo: PR/Anggun)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Saturday (23/6) attended the 15^th Dies Natalis of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar and delivered a public lecture.

“Internet of things, big data, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality are rapidly developing. Those are applied in blockchain using cryptocurrency, which is a currency with no central bank,” President Jokowi said while giving example in a public lecture before academic community of ISI Denpasar, on Saturday (23/6).

The other developments are biotechnology and computational neuroscience, which change the methods of breeding and farming using multilayer urban farming system, the President added.

President Jokowi also said that civilization changes rapidly and speed becomes a new face of the current age. Not to mention that global competition is very fierce that any countries which cannot keep up with it will be left behind.

“Currently, it is not about strong countries have power on weak countries, nor about big countries control small countries. In fact, a country that can (adapt) quickly will control a slow-adapting country,” the President said adding that changes are happening so quickly that slow-adapting ones will be left behind.

In his lecture, the Head of State mentioned Elon Musk who successfully broke the walls that hamper the development, changed the old mindset in order to create new thoughts and works.

“Creativity is needed to adapt quickly to the current changes, to create work of arts rooted in local wisdom, and to be a basis in creating the future,” the President added.

President Jokowi on that occasion said that Indonesia’s assets is no longer its abudant natural resources, but also its arts and cultures.

“Arts and cultures are in our DNA. We have 714 ethnic groups with their respective cultural characteristics, traditional arts, and traditions,” the President added.

These extraordinary arts and cultures of the nation are the material and source of inspiration of creative industry that create high value artworks.

“I believe with our assets, enriched with a high creativity process, it will be a strong basis to develop and promote creative industry in our country,” President Jokowi said and appreciated the development of creative industry based on literature, art, and culture in Indonesia, particularly in Bali.

Not only asked the academic community to seek inspire from Indonesia’s diversed culture, the President also asked them to use their artworks as source of inspiration in uniting the nation and all ethnic groups in Indonesia.

“Turn artworks into energy for the advancement of Indonesian civilization. Continue to excel, work for the nation,” the President concluded.

Also accompanying President Jokowi in the event were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, and Rector of ISI I Gede Arya Sugihartha. (DNA/EN) (RAS/MMB/Naster)