Minister asks cartoonists promote local culture

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)