ENGLAND — Titled “Hompimpa: Harmony Among the People of the Archipelago,” IISMA Leeds 2024 successfully held a cultural exhibition on Thursday, November 14, 2024, to introduce the uniqueness of Indonesian culture to the international community. With the theme of harmony among the people of the archipelago, the event offered interactive and diverse cultural experiences, from traditional clothing to distinctive Indonesian music.

Indonesian students introduced the uniqueness of Indonesian culture in the UK. Students participating in the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) program in Leeds, UK, held an event with the theme of harmony among the people of the archipelago. The event offered interactive and diverse cultural experiences, from traditional clothing to distinctive Indonesian music.

This exhibition is part of IISMA’s mission to introduce Indonesian culture to the world through various inspiring activities. One of IISMA’s efforts is through the CULTURISE challenge, where awardees are encouraged to actively develop their creativity in promoting Indonesian culture during their studies abroad. The “Hompimpa” exhibition is concrete evidence of how IISMA Leeds UK awardees have successfully implemented this challenge.

At the exhibition, several engaging booths provided visitors with an immersive cultural experience. At the “Clothes Try On” booth, visitors could try on and explore a variety of traditional Indonesian clothing, such as batik, kebaya, and sortali accessories. “Batik makes me feel fashionable and I feel comfortable wearing it,” said Elie, an international student from Switzerland, on Saturday (November 16, 2024).

Mahasiswa RI kenalkan keunikan budaya Indonesia di Inggris

There’s also a “Games” booth, featuring traditional games like Congklak, Gaplek, Spinning Tops, and Bola Bekel, evoking childhood memories and the cultural values ​​of Indonesian games. Visitors interested in traditional music can visit the “Music Booth” booth, where they can see and play Angklung, Gamelan, and Flute instruments. There’s also a “Batik-ing” booth, offering a batik-making experience, introducing the art of batik-making to the world.

Mahasiswa RI kenalkan keunikan budaya Indonesia di Inggris

“I found this event very interesting, and I learned a lot about intercultural communication. There were many exciting booths, and I found the batik drawing booth to be particularly enjoyable,” said Jane, an international student from France.

Furthermore, the “Merchandise” booth sold various Indonesian souvenirs such as batik cloth, wayang key chains, batik bookmarks, and wayang miniatures, with all proceeds donated to LBH APIK Jakarta. At the “Indonesian Food” booth, visitors could sample authentic Indonesian flavors through instant noodles and a variety of signature chili sauces.

The “Hompimpa” exhibition is one of IISMA’s strategic steps in bridging Indonesia’s cultural diversity with the world. Through this event, the 2024 IISMA Leeds United Kingdom awardees not only showcased the richness of the archipelago but also embodied IISMA’s mission of promoting harmony and cultural richness internationally.

Mahasiswa RI kenalkan keunikan budaya Indonesia di Inggris

Reference: Coverage of the 2024 IISMA Leeds Cultural Exhibition