Java-Institute photos a reminder of the past<\/p>\n
By Nuraini Razak<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jaap Erkelens holds to the saying that whoever
\nforgets his own history will be destined to repeat it, with all
\nthe sorrow or happiness that it might entail.<\/p>\n
Erkelens from the Jakarta representative office of the Dutch
\nDepartment of Language, History and Culture (KILTV) repeated the
\nexpression several times during a press conference held at
\nErasmus Huis in South Jakarta last week for a new exhibition, The
\nJava-Institute in Photographs.<\/p>\n
The history of Java in the final years of colonialism and
\nespecially life in and around the Yogyakarta keraton (palace) are
\nvividly presented in the images compiled by the institute, a body
\nset up in 1919 in Surakarta for the promotion and preservation of
\nthe culture of Java, as well as that of Sunda (West Java), Madura
\nand Bali.<\/p>\n
In the following 30 years until it was dissolved, the
\ninstitute was heavily involved in cultural activities, such as
\nfunding publications, holding performances and exhibitions and,
\nin particular, the establishment of the Sonobudoyo Museum in
\nYogyakarta in 1935.<\/p>\n
But it is the photographs which are, like Erkelens said, an
\nimportant reminder of how life used to be for the nobility in
\nJava in the 1930s. The project aims to introduce the rich
\nphotographic collection from Sonobudoyo to the public, to remind
\nand regain the community's consciousness on how important it is
\nto know the history of its country, to make communities aware
\nabout how important documentation is and to ensure that the
\npalace's photographic heritage will be studied and enjoyed for
\nmany years to come.<\/p>\n
\"To date, Indonesia lacks a comprehensive nationwide
\npublication focusing entirely on photographic exhibitions and
\nresources of the history before Indonesia's independence,\"
\nErkelens said.<\/p>\n
The 180 photographs (taken from the museum's collection of
\nabout 10,000) include rare works by figures such as R.M.
\nSoetarto, later the founder of state-owned TV station TVRI,
\nartist Rudolf Bonnet and Jaap Kunst. There are also several
\narchival films recently restored by the Dutch Embassy and the
\nNational Archives.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is presented in conjunction with the 150th
\nanniversary of KILTV (Koninklijk Instittut voor Taal, Land-en
\nVolkenkunde).<\/p>\n
There are four parts to the exhibition, each of which presents
\na different aspect of life at the palace and evokes a different
\nmood, underscoring the power of the medium.<\/p>\n
The first, on life inside the palace, dominates the
\nexhibition. It consists of the earliest known group of
\nphotographs from the palace, including the coronation of Sri
\nSultan Hamengku Buwono IX, a series of photographs crafted by
\nIsaac Goreneman, a doctor at the palace, and Kassian Cephas, a
\nphotography expert and a court servant, events and ceremonies,
\nthrough to the funeral of Sri Susuhunan Paku Buwono X and Sri
\nSultan Hamengku Buwono VIII in 1939.<\/p>\n
The second part of the exhibition, the life of the community,
\nincludes a series of photographs of wedding ceremonies held at
\nthe palace.<\/p>\n
Research activities, the next step on this photographic
\njourney, documents different pursuits, such as the making of
\nbatik and various handicrafts, and Bonnet's pictures of dancers.<\/p>\n
The last part, handicrafts and art creations, is a short
\nrecord of Java-Institute's handicraft school.<\/p>\n
The Java-Institute in Photographs was earlier exhibited at
\nSonobudoyo, in conjunction with Sukarno's 100th birthday
\nanniversary celebration, and drew more than 6,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Selections from this unique collection can be viewed until
\nJuly 28 at Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said kav, S-3 Kuningan,
\nSouth Jakarta. The exhibition is open to the public at no charge.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/java-institute-photos-a-reminder-of-the-past-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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