Jakarta to Host Exhibition of Russian Contemporary Paintings - 3 April, 2003

On Thursday, April 3rd, Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri will open an exhibition of Russian contemporary paintings in Jakarta.

A total of over 100 painting made by eighteen Russian painters will be exhibited in the Indonesian National Gallery for two weeks. The pictures painted in different genres give a clear image of Russian and Indonesian nature, the two nations' culture and history as well as everyday life of Russian and Indonesian common people.

The Indonesian part of the exhibition is a creative result of Russian painters' trips around Indonesia.

"I was lucky to be a member of those expeditions," Exhibition Head, painter Vladimir Anisimov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"In 2000, we visited Java and Bali and last year we made a trip to Sumatra. The best paintings, in our opinion, that were made during those trips have been brought to Jakarta. I believe Indonesians will be interested in seeing their country though the eyes of Russian painters," he stated.

It is the second time in the recent years that an exhibition of Russian paintings has been held in Indonesia. The year 2000 witnessed the success of the first exhibition devoted to the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The current exhibition was organised by the Russian Embassy in Indonesia and the Russian bureau of creative expeditions in the light of Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri's coming visit to Russia.