Opening Roepa Merdeka Exhibition, Tri Tito Praises DWP BIN Installation Art Creativity

The Daily Chairman of the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), Tri Tito Karnavian, opened the Roepa Merdeka Installation Exhibition at Balai Sudirman, Jakarta, on Wednesday (26/8). The fibre and thread-based installation art exhibition, initiated by the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), serves as a momentum to strengthen the creative economy sector while celebrating Independence Month.

During the opening, Tri emphasised the importance of providing expression spaces for local artists and creators. According to him, installation art possesses a unique quality as it arises from free imagination, combining visual beauty with technical skill. In addition to honing problem-solving abilities, such artistic activities have proven effective as a medium for self-healing and emotional processing.

Tri Tito noted that the vast potential of these creative spaces needs to be consistently supported, given the large number of workers in the arts and creative economy sectors nationwide. “According to BPS data managed by the creative economy ministry, there are nearly 25 million artists; indeed, these art workers are very diverse,” Tri Tito stated in his remarks on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

He expressed hope that exhibitions of this nature could be held routinely every August to embrace artists, whether they operate in fine arts or family-based craft economies. Furthermore, this activity carries a mission of women’s empowerment as the frontline for preserving the nation’s cultural heritage.

“Today, this exhibition carries the theme ‘Celebrating Women, Nurturing Heritage, Weaving the Future,’ which is significant because we are not only celebrating independence, but also celebrating women, because we mothers are the pillars of the nation,” he asserted.

The works by DWP BIN sold during the exhibition will subsequently be channelled to support various social actions and programmes.

For information, the opening ceremony was also attended by the Head of BIN, Muhammad Herindra; DWP BIN Advisor, Metty Muhammad Herindra; members of the Red and White Cabinet’s Women’s Solidarity for Indonesia (Seruni); and other invited guests.