To shed light on humanitarian issues and broaden its international network, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) once again hosted the Semarang International Illustration Festival (SIIF) 2025. This annual agenda of the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS UNNES) serves as a meeting ground for artists, academics, and practitioners to exchange ideas, reflect on humanitarian issues, and affirm the role of art as a medium of education and cross-border collaboration.
A total of 116 works by illustrators from 25 countries were showcased at SIIF 2025. These artworks presented diverse perspectives on humanity, ranging from human-nature relations and urban social portraits to personal interpretations of identity and diversity. The mediums varied widely, including digital illustration, mixed media, and conventional techniques on paper.
Dr. Eko Raharjo, M.Hum., Vice Dean I of FBS UNNES, emphasized that SIIF 2025 was designed not merely as an exhibition, but as a public learning platform and a space for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
“This event provides a space for voices of humanity through art that remain relevant, while also advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It encourages students to echo the SDGs through their illustration works,” he explained during an interview at Building B9, FBS UNNES, Monday (September 8, 2025).
Meanwhile, Dr. Rahina Nugrahani, S.Sn., M.Ds., Head of the D3 Visual Communication Design Program at UNNES, stated that SIIF 2025 not only featured exhibitions but also thematic dialogues and creative networking.
“We provided an inclusive dialogue space for students, practitioners, and illustrators to examine the dynamics of the illustration world. This event also invited alumni, illustrators, and curators from various institutions. Through these meetings, we hope to inspire collaborations and new ideas,” she said.
On the other hand, one of the curators, Muhammad Rahman Athian, S.Pd., M.Sn., underlined the function of art as a vehicle for reading reality and formulating responses.
“Humans should learn to solve their own problems, and art helps us articulate the answers. Through imagination, we interpret social and natural realities and transform them into a language that touches the conscience. This exhibition is dedicated to artists who remain steadfast in voicing humanity,” he concluded.
