Indonesian Student Wins UNESCO Youth Photography Contest
- 29 Sep 2026 18:42 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- A 14-year-old student from Cimahi won first place in the 14–17 category of UNESCO’s 2026 Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads photography contest.
- His winning photo captures a Jepara woodcarver and highlights the preservation of traditional craftsmanship across generations.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Yudha Pramudya, a 14-year-old student from Cimahi, West Java, has secured first place in the 14–17 age category at the 8th UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads 2026 International Photography Contest with his striking portrait of a Jepara woodcarver.
The ninth-grade student from Junior High School, SMP Negeri 2 Cimahi emerged victorious after his winning photograph, titled A Legacy in Every Carving, was selected from over 7,000 submissions across 100 countries following a rigorous international judging process evaluating originality, uniqueness, and visual power.
The winning photograph captures a Jepara woodcarver working with intense concentration, symbolizing the intergenerational transmission of traditional craftsmanship and knowledge.
"I initially saw a post on Instagram about the UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest and thought I would just try. It's better to try than not at all," Yudha said in a UNESCO press release issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
To capture the shot, Yudha borrowed a friend's camera and rented a lens. While he initially intended to photograph puppet makers in Jelekong, he ultimately tracked down Jepara woodcarvers operating in the Antapani district of Bandung.
"I wanted to convey that the Jepara woodcarving tradition must not go extinct, while capturing the deep emotions of the artisans as they carve," Yudha explained.
Indonesia's Deputy Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, I.G.A.K. Satrya Wibawa, commended the achievement, emphasizing the vital role young people play in cultural preservation through modern creative mediums.
"What is most important is how a 14-year-old views Indonesian cultural heritage through his own generation's perspective. The camera in his hands becomes a story-telling tool demonstrating that tradition is not merely stored in the past, but something to be carried forward," Satrya said.
Yudha's photograph, along with other winning and selected entries, will be published in the official Youth Lens on the Silk Roads photo album and featured in upcoming international UNESCO exhibitions. ***
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