TEMPO.CO, Mataram - As many as 28 bamboo artworks decorated the shores of Duduk Beach on Wednesdayin Batu Layar sub-district, West Lombok.

Across a 200-meter stretch of the beach, the works of 12 architects from 12 nations will be on display for the next three months during the Lombok International Bamboo Festival (LIBAF) 2013. These architects will also compete for cash prizes of up to US$5,000, sponsored by the Public Works Ministry.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Architects Union (IAI NTB), Rahman Wibisono, said the judges of the event have already named three winners for the competition.

A piece by Suklu from Bali named Bamboo Penjaga Air dan Tebing (Bamboo, the Guardian of the Water and Cliffs) came in first place with a prize of $2,200. Elena Goray from Russia showed off her creation named Tamed Wave and won second place with a cash prize of $1,800. In third place, a piece named Stairway to Heaven by students from Parahyangan University in Bandung won a cash prize of $1,000.

"Re-Design The World with Bamboo 2013" is the theme for the first ever bamboo festival in Indonesia with participants from various countries, such as Malaysia, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Vietnam, Belgium, Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Germany.

This is planned to be an annual festival hosted by different countries each year. Next year, the festival will be held in Vietnam while in 2015, Lombok will take on the role of hosting the festival again.

"This will be a global event," said Rahman.

SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID