National library plans show of VOC drawings
JAKARTA (JP): The National Library, in cooperation with Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam, is planning to exhibit what experts call an invaluable collection of 18th century topographical drawings of Jakarta and Java.
Head of the library Hernandono told The Jakarta Post early this week that the organizers were still deciding on a date for the exhibition of works by Johannes Rach, a Danish military officer with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) who died in Batavia, now the capital, at the age of 63 in 1783.
He said the organizers were considering several options for the holding of the event, including in conjunction with the library's 11th anniversary on May 17, the country's 55th Independence Day on Aug. 17 or Jakarta's anniversary in June.
"But it's all up to the Rijksmuseum's experts, who are still in the preparation process now," he said.
Dutch historian and museum consultant Max de Bruijn and senior curator of the Rijkmuseum's Department of Dutch history Bas Kist are in Jakarta to help in the preparation of the exhibition.
De Bruijn said on Thursday it was undecided whether to use originals or copies of Rach's works.
"It's still under discussion," he said.
He said the venue was not decided, but it could be held at the National Library, the Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis or National Archives.
The works are from the collection of the National Library, whose collection numbers 176 Rach works.
Data show 70 Rach drawings or copies are believed to be part of collections in several museums and institutions in the Netherlands.
Most of the works of Rach, who came to Indonesia in 1762, were made in Batavia. Others depict towns in West Java, such as Indramayu and Cirebon, as well as more distant areas in Java such as Rembang, Salatiga and Surabaya.
Some of the sites depicted are no longer extant.
Kist said it would be regrettable if the collection was not shown to the public.
"It's the largest collection of drawings (on Indonesia in the past) that has ever existed," he said.
The exhibition is also intended to develop an understanding among the public of the historical background of their areas, he added.
Rach also made some drawings of places he once visited during his service with the VOC, including South Africa, Sri Lanka and Japan.
Hernandono said the exhibition would be financed by both the National Library and the Rijksmuseum.
The library would allocate Rp 30 million for the exhibition's equipments, while the Rijksmuseum would financed the conservation work and the experts, he said.
De Bruijn added the exhibition would travel to several countries, including Rach's birthplace in Denmark, the Netherlands and several Asian countries.
"We plan to exhibit the works in the Netherlands in 2002, which coincides with the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the VOC," he said. (ind)