TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, through the National Book Committee (KBN), will again participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) on October 16-20, 2019, in Germany, preparing curated books as well as cultures and histories to be exhibited in the event.

"We've set book comprising events and programs for the FBF. This even has shifted from books exhibition to creative content exhibition and now there are more areas set for staging cultural performances," said KBN chairman Laura Bangun Prinsloo, in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 8.

KBN will display 350 curated books, 10 publishers, as well as three literature and creative content agencies. It will also launch a comic book about Raden Saleh, an Indonesian art maestro who used to live in Germany. A book entitled "Lebend und Abenteuer des Raden Saleh" was written by a German historian Werner Kraus and published by Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Germany.

Indonesia will also exhibit book contents to other media such as culinary, fashion, and music. Besides, there will be Indonesian writers, namely Rio Johan, Soe-Tjen Marching, Goenawan Mohamad, Diana Rikasari, and Feby Indirani.

"In 2016, we received complaints when Indonesia brought Pencak Silat, dances, and others. But FBF and German public welcomed us opening the cultural stand, and now they set a stand [specifically for the cultural exhibition]," said Laura.

KBN at the event will also show the potential of Indonesia's non-books content creative industry, such as the culinary and coffee sectors.

Laura added that musicians, illustrators, and mural artists will also perform at Indonesia's stand during the event.

"This will also be the first time KBN composes catalog displaying IP products aiming to sell the licenses. We want to introduce the characters of the nation to the producers and others so it will have sale values," Laura said.

"Our purpose is besides using books as tools of cultural diplomacy tool, [books] can also be utilized as economic tools."

Moh Khory Alfarizi