TIMES SINGAPORE, TOKYO – To celebrate Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day, the Indonesian Students Association in Japan (PPI Jepang) held the Indonesian Art Fair (IAF) 2024 at Sunpearl Arakawa, Tokyo, (18/8/2024). The event showcased the vibrant cultural heritage of Indonesia through a series of performances and workshops, offering a unique blend of traditional and modern art forms.

During the event, PPI Jepang invited cultural practitioners, including various art studios directly flown in from Indonesia, to perform for the audience comprising Indonesian citizens, local residents, and international visitors. This event was also held to allow the Indonesian diaspora to experience the excitement of Indonesia’s Independence Day in Japan.

Prima Ghandi, Vice Chairman of PPI Jepang, and Rayhan Rayzan, Head of the Indonesian Art Fair, expressed that the event was designed to strengthen the sense of nationalism and unity among Indonesians living far from home. Rayhan further added that the IAF is the beginning of the organization’s commitment to providing a platform for showcasing Indonesian creativity on the international stage.

At the same event, Muhammad Al Aula, Coordinator of Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, offered encouragement and support to Indonesian students in Japan. “Be grateful for the opportunity given by God to study abroad and actively seek ways to contribute to the country with the knowledge you acquire, including through critical thinking about how to improve the homeland," he remarked.

The first session of the Indonesian Art Fair 2024 kicked off with a culinary bazaar and workshops on batik and angklung, which captivated many visitors. Amidst the bustling atmosphere, the art stage was filled with performances from the Ayodya Pala studio, featuring a mash-up of dances from various regions, highlighting the cultural diversity of Indonesia.

Additional performances came from PPI Tokyo Metropolitan University, showcasing the Cirebon Mask Dance, and from PCI NU Japan, presenting Hadroh Nusantara. The session concluded with an angklung orchestra performed by students from the Indonesian School in Tokyo (SRIT), adding to the lively Independence Day celebration.

The workshops during the first session of the Indonesian Art Fair were equally vibrant, with approximately 500 visitors attending the bazaar while enjoying various performances. Special visitors were also given the opportunity to try batik-making and take home their creations.

Visitors who purchased tickets for the angklung workshop were guided through the process and even got to experience playing in an angklung orchestra.

The second session, which was the highlight of the IAF, featured a theatrical drama titled “Mimpi Dwi Warna” (The Two-Colored Dream). The story revolves around two young people exploring the islands of Indonesia with a magical Garuda. At each island or region they visit, dancers from the Ayodya Pala and Bali Pusaka studios performed traditional dances from across Indonesia, such as the Tor-Tor dance from the Batak tribe and Godeg Ayu from the Betawi/Sundanese people.

The Indonesian Art Fair was not just a celebration of Indonesia’s cultural diversity but also an opportunity to introduce it to an international audience. Fadlyansyah Farid, Chairman of PPI Jepang, stated that this cultural event serves as a moment for Indonesian students to act as ambassadors of Indonesia, not only to showcase dances but also to preserve Indonesian culture.

“The Indonesian Art Fair allows us to feel the rich atmosphere of Indonesia’s diversity, enhancing our patriotism and bringing us closer to our homeland, even though we are far away,” said the Chairman of PPI Jepang. (*)