The Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square is the stage for The Great Indonesia Exhibition, which opens today. And this is not an exhibition of a specific period in history, but the entire story is told with a contemporary perspective.
It was a long process for the makers. The exhibition has been three years in the making, including conversations with more than a hundred people in the Netherlands and Indonesia that are now coming to a climax. Chief curator Marlies Kleiterp believes it is a performance that portrays the long and eventful history of Indonesia.
A history that she believes does not receive the attention it deserves. “A report by the Bussemaker committee has shown that the youngest two generations have learned very little at school about the shared history between the Netherlands and Indonesia,” she explains. “And especially the atrocities that took place there.”
Rich history
At the same time, she not only wants to focus on the dark sides of history with the exhibition, but there is also room for the culture from long before the period in which slavery and war played a role. “We want to tell the big, compelling story of Indonesia. That history is much richer and broader than the period that is so close and in our heads. That is why we start the exhibition with the old legendary empire and the ancestor culture. These are all aspects that are still important in contemporary Indonesia.”
Friction
It is inevitable that there will also be controversy and friction when Indonesia’s history is discussed. Recently, during an Indies commemoration on Dam Square, Mayor Halsema stayed away because the daughter of controversial KNIL captain Raymond Westerling came to speak.
“We try to keep an eye on current events as closely as possible and weave them into the exhibition,” explains the head curator. “We also try to keep up with current events every time with the audio tour, which you can customize. And give people the space to reflect on a certain theme or subject, such as the 40s and 50s in Indonesia.”
More than 300 objects are on display in the Nieuwe Kerk. From age-old archaeological finds, sculptures, historical documents and applied art to wajang dolls, textiles, jewelry, fashion, but also painting, photography and films. They come from dozens of museums and private collections. The exhibition will last six months, until April 1, 2024.