Fadli Zon appreciates the 'Dynamics in Silence' exhibition of 2 Fine Arts Maestros

Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon opened an art exhibition titled ‘Dynamics in Silence’ at the Jakarta Culture Hall, Menteng. This exhibition showcases the works of two leading artists, Tulus Warsito and Ar Soedarto, who have long been involved in the world of Indonesian art with their distinctive visual approaches and characters. “Even in silence there are actually dynamics,” Fadli said in a written statement on Wednesday (22/10/2025). Fadli said this exhibition shows the depth of thought and visual power in conveying ideas about ‘silence’ and ‘dynamism’ in fine art, a concept that shows a deep understanding of the values ​​contained in culture. PAGE TO CONTINUE CONTENT This exhibition, according to Fadli, was born from the turbulent thoughts of two artists expressed in a very strong visual form, but remained silent in its delivery. Fadli emphasized that the works on display are indeed ‘quiet’, but there is a lot of turbulence in them that creates multiple perspectives for all who see them. He sees this exhibition as a form of deep reflection on the artists’ creative journeys, but still moving and moving in the audience’s inner space. A total of 31 works presented in this exhibition show a strong dynamic intensity, namely the play of colour, form composition, exploration of symbols and the strength of the themes raised. “Silence can be a form of sensitivity, strength and sharpness of feeling. In silence, artists actually find a wide space to explore values, evoke feelings and convey messages through their work,” said Fadli. In this exhibition, Ar Soedarto displays works, such as ‘Gunungan Aksoro Jowo’, ‘Looking Javanese Script’, and ‘Bulan Biru’ which represent an abstract flow containing symbols of local culture and spirituality. As an artist working since the 1970s, Ar Soedarto combines various traditional elements, such as gunungan wayang, calligraphy and Javanese script combined with progressive contemporary techniques and materials, producing works that are full of meaning and aesthetics. Meanwhile, a professor in the field of Political Science, Tulus Warsito, who also has a strong record in the world of fine arts, displays a prominent visual character through the play of optical illusions and expressive strokes that are characteristic of his work. In his works, such as ‘Homage to Dali’, ‘Family Tree’, ‘Behind the Window’ and ‘The Warrior’, Tulus presents a visual world built from a combination of empirical reality, personal experience and structured imagination. His artistic journey has penetrated various parts of the world, including the Indonesian Cultural Exhibition in the United States (KIAS, 1990), Biennale III Yogyakarta (1996), EXPOSIGN (2009), and the Geoje International Art Festival in South Korea (2021). Through his works, Tulus presents visual art as a form of sharp and reflective visual thought. The ‘Dynamics in Silence’ exhibition, which has been opened to the public from today, will run until October 29, 2025. Fadli also said that the Ministry of Culture has welcomed the presence of this exhibition as a forum for education and art appreciation that is very significant for the wider community. “This exhibition provides space for the public to get to know the artists in more depth and opens discourse about the thoughts and creative processes that underlie the works of Indonesian artists that are full of meaning and innovation,” said Fadli. Fadli hopes that this exhibition will not only broaden the public’s insight into the creative process of artists, but also highlight the richness of multicultural Indonesian culture. “As a mega-diversity country, Indonesia has a wealth of very diverse cultures and traditions. This exhibition highlights this diversity through artworks that represent various perspectives and cultural identities. It also reminds us of the importance of protecting, caring for and preserving cultural heritage as part of the nation’s unique identity,” said Fadli. “I hope that this exhibition can promote people’s love and pride in Indonesia’s cultural wealth, as well as encourage collective awareness to continue to preserve and develop the nation’s cultural heritage for future generations,” he continued. In a joint statement, Ar Soedarto and Tulus explained the background of the choice of the theme. They said that the works on display were indeed still in form, but were designed to present dynamism, both in space, movement, color and the issues presented. “Unlike kinetic sculptures that physically move, our works are static works that want to present dynamism. This choice is not a matter of good or bad, but because we like this form,” they said. “The diction ‘quiet’ or ‘static’ arose because our artistic journey has gone so far, while ‘dynamic’ is the fluctuation of work that cannot be stopped,” he continued. Both emphasized that silence does not mean passive. In contrast, silence is a contemplative space that still resonates with dynamism, reflection and the search for meaning. ‘Dynamics in Silence’, they continued, is a form of awareness of the artistic process that has gone so far and is now expressed as an expression. FYI, the opening of the ‘Dynamics in Silence’ exhibition was also attended by a number of well-known Indonesian artists and cultural figures, including Taufiq Ismail; Head of the Jakarta Cultural Center, Syahnagra Ismail; and artist Akbar Linggaprana. Meanwhile, those from the Ministry of Culture who accompanied Fadli included expert staff from the Minister for Law and Cultural Policy, Masyithoh Annisa Ramadhani Alkatiri; and Director of Digital Culture Development Andi Syamsu Rijal. Also see the video ‘Introducing the rewriting of Indonesian history directed in December’: (akd/ega)