"How should we remember Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the Dutch
governor-general who founded Batavia [now Jakarta, Indonesia's capital]
and also the colonist who is responsible for the mass killing of
thousands of Banda Island natives in the 16th century?"
This dilemma was conveyed by Indonesian artist Iswanto Hartono in
his art exhibition at the Oude Kerk Church in Amsterdam, starting from
Sep. 28th to Nov. 15th. The art exhibition on the Dutch colonial history
in Indonesia is a part of the Europalia Arts Festival, in which
Indonesia is the guest of honor.
The answer to the question is not as important as the process of
finding it. Iswanto's aim is to bring forth critical discussion on the
Dutch colonial past and heritage in Indonesia to Indonesians and Dutch
alike.
"The
Dutch colonial history remains a hot topic in the Indonesia-Netherland
relationship. For example, Coen. Some people considered him a hero and
some think he is a mass murderer. This is a controversial part of our
history because there are people who want to remember him and there are
those who just want to forget," Iswanto told the Jakarta Globe via video
call recently.
The half-Chinese, half-Purworejo artist interpreted his idea
using a full scale wax figure of Coen. Like a candle, the sculpture is
being burned slowly until the exhibit ends in mid November.
"I am using wax as a medium because it represents the tension
between remembering and forgetting. In Western and some religious
traditions, burning a candle is done to remember those who past away. In
order to forget, we must first remember. This duality or ambiguity is
opening new perspectives on how we see our past," Iswanto said.
Iswanto also used his art installation "Golden Coach (Kereta
Kencana)" to challenge the narratives on Dutch colonial heritage in
Indonesia.
"The Golden Coach that was used by Dutch aristocrats are still
being used today by our royalties [the sultanate/keraton] as a symbol of
prestige and honor without any sense of guilt," Iswanto said, adding
that it was the Dutch colonists who tried to remove the feudal system in
Indonesia.
In former President Soeharto's New Order era, many Dutch colonial
heritage artifacts were destroyed, erased or "turned" into Indonesian.
Names of streets and buildings were changed to Indonesian names, and
many monuments and statues were destroyed, "but, our judicial and
education system remained Dutch."
Among other installations that Iswanto displays include a wax
replica of The Vlakkenhoek Lighthouse in Sumatera, Belgica Fort in Banda
Aceh, Amsterdam Gate in Jakarta, The Newkerk Museum or Wayang Museum in
Jakarta, Mohr Observatorium in Jakarta and a video on Banda Island in
Maluku. Banda, the nutmeg island, was declared a UNESCO world heritage
site in 2005. Iswanto also displays animal hunting trophies made from
wax, such as boar, Bengal Tiger and Java Rhinos.
"Hunting is human nature. The colonist hunts for trophies to express a
sense of power. In contrast, Indonesian locals at that time hunted for
food. Hunting animals also has a personal sentiment because it was an
activity I enjoyed with my family when I was little," he said.
Indonesia is the main guest of honor at the biannual Europalia
Arts Festival held across Europe, which will officially start on Oct. 10
and end in January 2018. The countries include the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, France and Austria, which will
see hundreds of cultural events, dance and theater shows, music
performances, literature events, screenings and exhibitions. Some of
these exhibitions, such as wayang workshop and a culinary festival, had
already started in Brussels.
The Mont des Arts in Brussels, Belgium, will be center stage throughout most of the show.
More than 300 Indonesian artists, from dancers to filmmakers, are
participating in the event held to introduce Indonesia's rich culture
and history to Europeans.
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