MPR RI Library Encourages Employee Creativity Through Terrarium Art

This event was held as an effort to enhance literacy spirit and creativity, as well as to instil national values. The activity also aligns with the National Library Regulation No. 4 of 2023, which states that libraries function as spaces for personal development, creativity, community building, and community empowerment. Acting Secretary General of the MPR RI, Siti Fauziah, expressed her appreciation to the MPR RI Library for organising the event. According to Siti, creative literacy is not merely a creative activity but also a means to instil character values in daily life and work. Siti said she was pleased to see the enthusiasm of participants from various backgrounds and generations, including the involvement of male participants, which she noted added a unique touch. “I am pleased because activities like this are usually dominated by female participants, but today, alhamdulillah, there are also male participants, and the generations are quite balanced. This means the activity can be accepted by all groups,” said Siti in her statement on Thursday (14/5/2026). Terrarium is the art of arranging small plants, moss, and other elements such as stones or sand inside a transparent glass container, simulating a natural ecosystem in miniature form. This craft is also commonly known as a ‘forest in a bottle’ or a self-sustaining ecosystem for room decoration. The breadfruit tree theme was chosen for a reason. The tree holds historical and ideological significance as part of Bung Karno’s contemplative story in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). “The breadfruit tree is not just a food plant. It is a trace of life that records resilience, simplicity, and creative power,” explained Siti. “It was under the breadfruit tree that Pancasila began to take shape,” she added. Through this activity, participants were invited not only to produce artwork in the form of terrariums but also to understand important values such as patience, meticulousness, discipline, and the ability to imagine. According to Siti, the entire process of assembling layers of stones, soil, and plants has a philosophy relevant to the working world. “In making this terrarium, there are rules, stages, patience, and meticulousness. All these elements are actually needed in carrying out daily work,” said Siti. Siti recounted that during the terrarium-making process, the stage of arranging pebbles reminded her of challenges in organisations and work. “I wanted to arrange the stones like stairs, but the stones did not always cooperate. From there, we learn that work also has challenges,” said Siti. “We cannot force our will, but must find ways for everything to be arranged properly,” she continued. Besides being a space for developing creativity, this activity is also seen as a means of healing amid work routines. “Activities like this can be a refresher amid work fatigue. By taking a moment, we can build new enthusiasm to resume tasks,” said Siti. One participant, Vidya Palupi, expressed her enthusiasm. She admitted that initially, she thought making a terrarium was easy because she often saw beautiful results on social media. However, when practising directly, the process turned out to be quite challenging. “At first, I thought terrarium was just about putting things together. But when practising, it was not as easy as it looks,” said Vidya. “Our creativity is truly tested because the results are not always as beautiful as those on social media,” she added. Vidya hopes that creative literacy activities can be held more frequently because they provide a different atmosphere amid work routines. “This becomes an arena for healing as well as gathering and interacting with friends from other units in a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, not in a meeting forum. This activity also lives up to its name, adding to our creativity,” said Vidya.