Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Visits Jepara, Supports Carvings as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
HALO JEPARA– The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Indonesia, Armin Limo, made an official visit to Jepara Regency in order to support the Joint Nomination of Jepara Carvings as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage initiative, Tuesday (05/27/2025).
This visit is the first step in cooperation between Indonesia and Bosnia to encourage world recognition of the richness of Jepara’s traditional carving art.
During his visit, Ambassador Armin Limo visited several carving centers in Jepara, including the Sembada Ukir Petekeyan Village, the Senenan Relief Center, the Mulyoharjo Statue Center, and the Mantingan Mosque which is one of the historical sites that represents the richness of Jepara’s typical carving art.
The Regent of Jepara, Witiarso Utomo, welcomed the Ambassador’s arrival directly and explained that this visit was part of the joint nomination process so that Jepara Carvings could be recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
“After this, the Bosnian side will ask for many supporting documents from the community. Later, this nomination will be submitted first through Bosnia, before being continued to UNESCO,” explained Mas Wiwit, Witiarso Utomo’s nickname.
The Jepara Regency Government has also prepared various supports to preserve the art of carving, including educational programs for children of carvers and providing social security for carvers.
“We will prioritize Jepara carvings so that they remain sustainable and have economic value to help the community’s welfare,” he said.
Ambassador Armin Limo also admitted that he was impressed by the welcome of the Jepara community. Moreover, this was his first visit to Jepara Regency.
“I am very happy with this visit, especially since this is my first visit to Jepara. I feel like I’m at home, the people are very friendly. I even got the chance to try carving directly,” he said.
He added that in Bosnia there is a city that has been recognized by UNESCO for its wood carving art, and he hopes that Jepara can follow in the same footsteps.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the MPR RI, Lestari Moerdijat, who was also present at this visit, also expressed her appreciation for the role of female carvers.
“Earlier I saw a female carver, it was extraordinary. Carving is not only about technical skills, but also about taste. A little wrong touch can ruin the entire work,” he said.
Lestari emphasized the importance of joint strength to maintain carving art and its craftsmen as part of the nation’s cultural identity.
The process to gain recognition from UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage is estimated to take up to two years. However, with the support of various parties, the hope for Jepara Carvings to go global is increasingly wide open.
