JAKARTA – The long journey of contemporary art meets a new direction in culture-based tourism at the ‘Parama Paraga‘ exhibition. The Institute of the Arts (ISI) Bali hosted this significant event on Wednesday afternoon. The Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, attended the ceremony to officially open the fifth Kalangan Widya Mahardika academic art festival.

Parama Paraga As A Retrospective of Creative Evolution

The minister personally inspected the retrospective exhibition of Prof. Dr. Wayan Kun Adnyana, the Rector of ISI Bali. This collection records a creative process spanning more than two decades. The artworks showcase a vivid transformation from early explorations of the human form to modern abstract compositions. These later pieces rely heavily on a sophisticated interplay of lines and colors.

Prof. Kun Adnyana describes the exhibition as a reflection of his 20-year artistic odyssey. He views the exhibition as a testament to his evolving conceptual-visual dedication. “This long process moves from body exploration toward pure color compositions with lines as the primary basis,” he explained during the tour.

Synergizing Art and Global Tourism

During her visit, the Minister also witnessed the signing of an MoU between ISI Bali and the Bali Tourism Polytechnic. This agreement strengthens the “Tri Dharma” of higher education by integrating art education directly into the tourism sector.

In her official remarks, Minister Widiyanti praised the strategic role of culture-based creative spaces. She believes these venues provide the authentic and meaningful experiences that modern global travelers now demand.

A Celebration of Academic Art

The exhibition features 88 selected works curated by both national and international experts. This event serves as a “party of academic art” that encourages lecturers and students to perform on a global stage. The festival carries the theme ‘Kirtya Jnana Kawiya‘, which signifies the restoration of noble knowledge through the artistic process.

Prof. Kun Adnyana emphasized that culture-based tourism forms the vital foundation for advancing Balinese heritage. He invited the Minister specifically to highlight the synergy between the world of art and the tourism industry. The ‘Parama Paraga‘ exhibition remains open to the public until early May.

_{As reported on Humas ISI /Photo doc. ISI}