Jakarta (Antaranews Kalsel) - The Armenian Embassy in Jakarta in collaboration with the Antara News Agency launched a photo book "Armenia: Land of Legend" at the Adhiyana Auditorium, Wisma Antara, Tuesday (1/15) to introduce Armenia to Indonesian people.
"Geographically and the Armenian population is small compared to Indonesia and has almost no historical connection, but that's where the challenge is, namely how to express the richness of natural beauty and Armenian culture to the wider Indonesian community," said President Director of Antara Meidyatama Suryodiningrat in Jakarta, Tuesday night.
Meidyatama hopes that the photo book can be a source of enlightenment about the wonders of Armenia which will trigger the interest of the Indonesian people to better understand the potential of the two countries.
With a population of only about 3 million and as large as Central Java, Armenia which is without sea because it is flanked by Turkey in the west, Georgia (north), Azerbaijan (east) and Iran (south), is sometimes missed by Indonesians who are mostly flooded with information about superpower with its economic strength.
The Ambassador of Armenia to Indonesia Dziunik Aghajanian also expressed her hope that the photo book could become a kind of entrance for Indonesian people who did not know Armenia in depth.
"Although the Armenian community has actually existed in Indonesia for centuries, today there are not many Indonesians who know where Armenia is. I hope this book will be an interesting entrance to curiosity to explore hidden gems, called Armenia, one country that is rich in traditions, culture and past history, "said Aghajanian.
"This book can attract the attention of those who read it to visit this small country, but with a society full of warmth and open-minded, and famous for hospitality, a high-value gastronomic culture, extraordinary creativity which is poured in countless monuments that adds to the natural beauty of Armenia," she said.
"Armenia: Land of Legend" consists of 105 pages of which 70 percent are photographs, the rest are texts that tell stories about the rich history, culture and natural beauty of Armenia.
The photo book is the result of a lens shot and a travel record of photographer Hermanus Prihatna and writer Atman Ahdiat from the Antara News Agency who toured Armenia, the sealess country, for eight days in May 2018.
Atman said the basic idea of writing this book was the fact that not many of Indonesian ordinary people knew Armenia.
Both the Armenian and the Antara News Office believe that photos and articles by Indonesian photographers and journalists will produce a perspective that is in accordance with the eyes and taste of Indonesia. The result will certainly be different if photographed and written by those who are not Indonesian, even with the same object.
Hermanus said he and Atman were trying to make a new breakthrough through the photo book "Armenia: The Land of Legend."
He added, in general, photo books are more like a catalog because they all contain photos and only a little description of the image so it feels rather monotonous.
"As for this Armenian book, book writing is packaged in a journalistic manner and is equipped with articles that completely explain about photographed objects, such as historical heritage and interesting tourist attractions," he said.
On the same occasion, Social Communication Expert Renaldi Zein said the Armenian photo book: Land of Legend is a history of books that would unite strong ties between Indonesia and Armenia.
"Armenia as a new country fraction of the Soviet Union will be better known in Indonesia as a far-away friendly country. For that, let us read and see, and have a photo book 'Armenia: Land of Legend.' It may be that Armenia will write about Indonesia, both Sumatra, Java, Bali and in its entirety, "said the former RRI Supervisory Board.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Selatan 2019
"Geographically and the Armenian population is small compared to Indonesia and has almost no historical connection, but that's where the challenge is, namely how to express the richness of natural beauty and Armenian culture to the wider Indonesian community," said President Director of Antara Meidyatama Suryodiningrat in Jakarta, Tuesday night.
Meidyatama hopes that the photo book can be a source of enlightenment about the wonders of Armenia which will trigger the interest of the Indonesian people to better understand the potential of the two countries.
With a population of only about 3 million and as large as Central Java, Armenia which is without sea because it is flanked by Turkey in the west, Georgia (north), Azerbaijan (east) and Iran (south), is sometimes missed by Indonesians who are mostly flooded with information about superpower with its economic strength.
The Ambassador of Armenia to Indonesia Dziunik Aghajanian also expressed her hope that the photo book could become a kind of entrance for Indonesian people who did not know Armenia in depth.
"Although the Armenian community has actually existed in Indonesia for centuries, today there are not many Indonesians who know where Armenia is. I hope this book will be an interesting entrance to curiosity to explore hidden gems, called Armenia, one country that is rich in traditions, culture and past history, "said Aghajanian.
"This book can attract the attention of those who read it to visit this small country, but with a society full of warmth and open-minded, and famous for hospitality, a high-value gastronomic culture, extraordinary creativity which is poured in countless monuments that adds to the natural beauty of Armenia," she said.
"Armenia: Land of Legend" consists of 105 pages of which 70 percent are photographs, the rest are texts that tell stories about the rich history, culture and natural beauty of Armenia.
The photo book is the result of a lens shot and a travel record of photographer Hermanus Prihatna and writer Atman Ahdiat from the Antara News Agency who toured Armenia, the sealess country, for eight days in May 2018.
Atman said the basic idea of writing this book was the fact that not many of Indonesian ordinary people knew Armenia.
Both the Armenian and the Antara News Office believe that photos and articles by Indonesian photographers and journalists will produce a perspective that is in accordance with the eyes and taste of Indonesia. The result will certainly be different if photographed and written by those who are not Indonesian, even with the same object.
Hermanus said he and Atman were trying to make a new breakthrough through the photo book "Armenia: The Land of Legend."
He added, in general, photo books are more like a catalog because they all contain photos and only a little description of the image so it feels rather monotonous.
"As for this Armenian book, book writing is packaged in a journalistic manner and is equipped with articles that completely explain about photographed objects, such as historical heritage and interesting tourist attractions," he said.
On the same occasion, Social Communication Expert Renaldi Zein said the Armenian photo book: Land of Legend is a history of books that would unite strong ties between Indonesia and Armenia.
"Armenia as a new country fraction of the Soviet Union will be better known in Indonesia as a far-away friendly country. For that, let us read and see, and have a photo book 'Armenia: Land of Legend.' It may be that Armenia will write about Indonesia, both Sumatra, Java, Bali and in its entirety, "said the former RRI Supervisory Board.
Editor : Mahdani
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Selatan 2019