Minister asks cartoonists promote local culture

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro (right in above photo) called on the country's cartoonists yesterday to help the government promote national culture.

Wardiman said at the opening of National Comic and Animation Week that cartoonists could insert local values into comics and animations in such a way that people would be willing to read their pieces.

"Such an innovation would encourage Indonesian comic readers to keep away from foreign products and begin to admire and read local ones," Wardiman said.

After the opening ceremony, Wardiman toured the exhibition hall flanked by organizing committee chairman Rahayu Hidayat (left in above photo).

The event is being staged by the ministry at the Gedung Senirupa art center on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta. The program includes an exhibition and workshops on animated cartoons and comic strips, a book launching and a seminar presenting cartoonists, publishers, authors, entrepreneurs, animators and advertisers.

Taking part in the exhibition are many renowned artists, including Dwi Koen, Mochammad Affandie, Oerip, Jan Mintaraga and Ganes T.H.

Six veteran cartoonists and a newcomer will be honored by the Indonesian Comic Society.

A book on Indonesian comics written by a French scientist Marcel Boneff will be launched this evening. The book is published by PT Gramedia.

On tomorrow morning's program is a children's drawing competition, followed by a seminar which is expected to discuss how to improve the quality of Indonesian comics. (09)