Bali Bureau To Hold Photo Exhibition Commemorating Antara's 80th Anniversary

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Antara Indonesian News Agency in Bali will hold a photo exhibition titled "Bali 2017: Rwa Bhineda" at an open house to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the agency that falls on December 13, 2017.

"The photo exhibition, to be held at our office on Mataram Street, Lumintang Square, Denpasar, Bali, is the peak event of Antara News Agency's anniversary celebrations, and we have invited government officials, private institutions, and all members of society," Chairman of the Committee of the 80th Anniversary of  Antara's Bali Bureau Nyoman Budhiana stated in Denpasar, Saturday.

Accompanied by Wira Suryantala, the coordinator of the photo exhibition, the senior photographer explained that the event will showcase 24 single photographs and three story photos that showcase several facts that transpired throughout the year in the province of Bali bearing the theme "Rwa Bhineda."

"Rwa Bhineda describes several contradictory events or two things that are different in nature, such as black and white, day and night, male and female, and so forth. The facts that are presented in two frames are what we are bringing to the public, for them to reflect on," he noted.

For instance, a landslide in the Songan Village in February in which 12 people were killed, and the incident that caused deep sorrow to the local community for up to a week, but on the other hand, there was overwhelming excitement in the soccer community, as Bali United beat their opponents in a League-1 match.

"The situation is the same when it comes to environmental issues. Some are concerned about saving the environment, while some are not. There is a fight for fraternity and harmony in the Pandan War tradition, but there was also a clash to forcefully disrupt a land acquisition event in Serangan," he pointed out.

The last event is the one that is shocking to the world, which also supports the theme of the exhibition.

"With the discharge of black and white smoke, it represents the concept of Rwa Bhineda, as there is black and then there is white," he explained.

The three story pictures describe the quiet atmosphere of Nyepi Day after the hustle and bustle of tourism in Kuta, when the prisoners became artists, or repent and art, and the sanctification of Mother Earth that highlights the local wisdom of the Balinese people to always uphold nature's holiness and balance.

"Photos of the motherland's sanctification were once exhibited in Hamburg, Germany, themed 'Mutter Festival in early September,'" he noted.

State-owned enterprises, the Bali provincial government, and other partners are supporting the exhibition of photographs captured by three photographers of Antara Bali Bureau: I Nyoman Budhiana, I Gede Wira Suryantala, and Naufal Fikri Yusuf.

"The exhibition is planned to be opened by Head of Bali's Cultural Office I Gusti Ngurah Bagus Mataram and will be attended by Head of Public Relations of the Bali Provincial Government I Dewa Gede Mahendra Putra, Head of Public Relations of Bali's city government, editors-in-chief of several mass media outlets, public relations representatives of state-owned enterprises and universities," he noted.

In addition, the agenda of the 80th anniversary of Antara Indonesian News Agency in Bali will kick off with a Portal Convergence Training to be held on May 12-14, Coaching Clinic Photography event on Aug 12, Journalism and Photography Workshop for Students/Public Relations on Nov 18, and a family gathering scheduled in January 2018. (WDY)