Schmidt to address batik conference

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt is scheduled to address a batik conference and exhibition held here on Nov. 2 to Nov. 6, organizers say.

Muljarto Tjokrowinoto from the International Conference on Cultural Tourism (ICCT) said over the weekend that Schmidt's speech will focus on the importance of cultural identity in globalization.

Vice President Try Sutrisno will officially inaugurate the "Dunia Batik" conference next Monday at Gadjah Mada University's Graha Sabha Pramana Conference Hall. Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave and Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro are expected to attend.

Participants are expected to number over 300, with 100 of them foreigners from 11 countries.

The exhibition will be divided into three main categories: ancient batik, today's batik and contemporary batik.

The ancient batik exhibition will present no less than 150 ancient batiks, made between 1850 and 1950, from all over the world. Among the exhibition's participants are the national textile museum, Danar Hadi batik gallery, Ardiyanto batik gallery and Italian Sergio Feld Bauer.

About 33 booths will exhibit today's batiks representing a number of batik designers, the Indonesian Batik Foundation, and the Association of Indonesian Fashion Designers.

The contemporary batik exhibition is for those who use batik technique as a reference for their art. About 35 participants -- including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the UK and USA -- will display their works here. Among Indonesian participants is batik painter Amri Yahya. (23/swa)