EDWARD HUTABARAT & KEMENDIKBUD EXHIBIT “BOROBUDUR” & “SELIMUT NUSANTARA” IN L’INDONÉSIE AU CARROSEL DU LOUVRE, BEST OF INDONESIA

Images courtesy of Edward Hutabarat

Presenting the beauty of Borobudur temple photography and the legacy of the Archipelogo’s Woven Wastra, this innovation-spirited exhibition opens on 28 November 2023, featuring the beautiful of the Diva, Anggun

A global digital promotional media platform with a mission to increase the visibility of Indonesia’s best brands and talents based in France, Best of Indonesia collaborates with Indonesian fashion maestro Edward Hutabarat and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) is set to launch the debut program “L’Indonésie au Carrousel du Louvre” which presents a photo exhibition titled “Borobudur” and Indonesian weavings, from Sumba, Timor (NTT), Bal i, Sumbawa (NTB), Ulos from Samosir and Songket from Sumatra titled “Selimut Nusantara” at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France from 28 November 2023 to 8 January 2024.

Watch snippet from Edward Hutabarat‘s Press Conference here:

Director General of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Hilmar Farid, Ph.D., said, “I appreciate Best of Indonesia’s initiative to introduce Indonesian culture while encouraging its marketing and promotion to the French public, especially Europe in general, in an elegant way in a respectable venue such as the Carrousel du Louvre. This is in line with the government’s efforts to build Indonesia’s image as a country rich in culture. The world needs to know more about Indonesia’s natural and cultural wealth and creativity, and I think Edward Hutabarat‘s work is very representative of that mission.”

“I am proud, and very happy to be invited by the Carrousel du Louvre to exhibit my work in such a historic place in Paris,” said Edward Hutabarat. In 2022, this designer held an exhibition at Borobudur Temple entitled “Kabakil”, which made a positive impression on Carrousel du Louvre officials and eventually triggered an invitation for Edward Hutabarat to exhibit his work at this year’s Carrousel du Louvre exhibition.

Luthfi Hasan, Representative for Best of Indonesia in Jakarta stated,“This exhibition is intended to promote and increase the visibility of Indonesian brands and talents in the international community, which have the potential to penetrate the French and European markets”.

“We are very pleased to welcome Indonesia to the Carrousel du Louvre, by showcasing the talent of Maestro Edward Hutabarat in this event. This will be an outstanding exhibition highlighting the richness of Indonesian culture and Mr. Hutabarat‘s exceptional craftsmanship,” said Marie Mauvage Director of Carrousel du Louvre.

Presented by LeChateau Living

In this upcoming exhibition, Edo Hutabarat will showcase his photographic work called “Borobudur” as well as his weaving works of Sumba, Timor (NTT), Bali, Sumbawa (NTB), Ulos from Samosir and Songket from Sumatra titled “Selimut Nusantara”. With the intention to introduce civilization as well as the beauty, richness, skills, and wisdom of Indonesian culture, Edo Hutabarat detailed the story of “Selimut Nusantara” which takes inspiration from Indonesia’s natural and cultural wealth.

“As the name implies, ‘Selimut Nusantara’ is a collection of blankets that are woven and made from 100% natural materials. Blankets like these have been used in traditional ceremonies in Sumba for hundreds of years, so I turned them into global works. This exhibition in Paris is the first time this work is exhibited to the public,” he explained.

The cultural exhibition is fully supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and the Comité d’animation Culturel le Paris 1 (Paris 1 Cultural Activities Committee). The opening ceremony of the L’Indonésie au Carrousel du Louvre exhibition on November 28 will feature the beautiful voice of Anggun, an Indonesian diva whose name has been recognized around the world.

“I am very happy to be part of the effort to strengthen Indonesia’s positive image. Congratulations to Best of Indonesia for their initiative,” Anggun said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to France, Mohamad Oemar, expressed his full support for the exhibition, “We always support any activity that strengthens the good image of Indonesia in the eyes of the French people, such as this exhibition. Moreover, it is located in one of the most iconic places in the world.”

Best of Indonesia founder, Nina Hanafi said, “The L’Indonésie au Carrousel du Louvre exhibition is the largest and longest exhibition in Paris focused on Indonesia, which has an impact on the image and visibility of Indonesia’s best brands and talents in the international community. Through this debut program, Best of Indonesia wants to take a strategic role through synergistic collaboration as a disruptive digital platform that is able to bridge the best Indonesian products, brands and talents through careful curation efforts and global networking to present these ‘gems’ on the international stage, while opening up wider business opportunities.”