The exhibition “Czechs in Indonesia” travels through the Indonesian islands

In the premises of the Taman Pintar, cultural and educational complex in Yogyakarta, the exhibition Czechs in Indonesia was presented in the last week of May, bringing closer the rich mutual ties of the two distant countries, from the ancient past to the present day. The vernissage was part of the ceremonial signing of the contract, confirming the intention of cooperation between Hluboka nad Vltavou, a town in South Bohemia and Yogyakarta in Indonesia. The contract was signed by the highest representatives from both cities – the mayor and senator Tomáš Jirsa and his Indonesian partner Singgih Raharjo.

The exhibition Czechs in Indonesia was already presented at the end of last year in the premises of the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Bali, from where it was taken over at the beginning of the year by Joshua district, a unique residential complex, which in Bali has become a meeting place not only for the Czech expatriate community. After these stops, “Czechs in Indonesia” will travel to other places in Indonesia and will finally present itself in Jakarta.

Although the Czech Republic and Indonesia are separated by almost nine thousand kilometers, their mutual relations have a centuries-old tradition. Already at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, in that time still colonial Dutch East Indies, Czech doctors worked in Indonesia, the music school in Batavia (today Jakarta) was led by the Czech musician Josef Šrogl. The beauty of the country was conveyed to the Czech audience by the poet Konstantin Biebl, and pioneering entrepreneurial steps were taken care of by Tomáš Bata. In the diplomatic field, mutual relations were strengthened on August 4, 1955, when Czechoslovakia opened its embassy in the Indonesian capital. Czech athletes, such as František Šťastný, Emil Zátopek, Josef Masopust, also went to the country under the equator in the post-war years. Even today, we can find Czech athletes who are active in Indonesia. For example Michael Krmenčík and Ondřej Kúdela wore the jersey of the Persija Jakarta football club.

Currently, Czechs in Indonesia are engaged in charity projects, founding companies, buying real estate and building resorts in Bali. Indonesia may not be as far away as it seems on the map. And it is certainly worth the attention that generations of Czechs have paid to it for centuries. The traveling exhibition Czechs in Indonesia, which will continue at the offices of the consulates general of the Czech Republic, is the key to getting to know it.

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