It was a lesson in the art of diplomacy and the diplomacy of art.
Despite a busy parliament sitting week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott turned up at the National Gallery to open a new exhibition, Bali: Island of the Gods.
The event was an opportunity for the prime minister to heap praise on Indonesia after recent diplomatic tensions over spying and asylum seeker boats.
"There have been some difficulties in recent times," Mr Abbott said.
"But my meeting with President Yudhoyono and the return of Ambassador Nadjib shows that this relationship is fundamentally strong."
Television cameras captured him warmly greeting Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, surrounded by an impressive collection of Balinese art.
It was the diplomat's first major public appearance since returning to Australia, having been recalled six months ago over the spying scandal.
"I had a very long holiday," the ambassador joked.
He, too, was keen for a rapprochement, telling the audience: "There is no other choice for Australia and Indonesia but to become close friends and partners."
The exhibition guide says the driving force behind much Balinese art is to "attempt to prevent, avoid, control and appease malevolence".
It could also be describing diplomacy.
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