Lecture: All the Way from Java: Islamic Heritage and the Aftermath of Colonialism
For centuries, the Dutch ruled over the Indonesian archipelago, a region with a vast Muslim-majority population. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Indonesian artifacts were shipped to the Netherlands. These included everything from precious weapons and manuscripts to everyday items and scraps of paper bearing religious texts. Despite Indonesia's long Islamic history, Dutch representations of its arts and cultures have fixated on Hinduism, Buddhism, and ancestral practices. This talk by Mirjam Shatanawi dives into the colonial legacies shaping how Indonesian Islamic heritage is presented in museums in the Netherlands. The talk is part of the Annual Lecture Center for Religion and Heritage Groningen.
It traces the journey of these artifacts from their original contexts to their historical and current displays, revealing how they were re-purposed as war trophies, intelligence materials, educational tools, or simply as pretty things to decorate the home. Through vivid examples, the talk will explore how academic and popular ideas influenced the interpretation of Indonesia's religious heritage. This lecture not only sheds light on the lasting impacts of colonialism but also suggests pathways for the decolonization of museums, ensuring a more inclusive representation of Indonesia's Islamic history.
The lecture will be from 14.00 to 15.30 CET on Wednesday January 15th in the Courtroom, Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society, Oude Boteringestraat 38, Groningen, and will be preceded by coffee and tea during the walk in, from 13:30 to 14:00.
