Theefabriek Kertamanah gebouwd door Machinefabriek Braat Soerabaia 1934 1934

Curator: We’re looking at a black and white photograph mounted in what appears to be an album, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It documents a site-specific work—the construction of “Theefabriek Kertamanah,” or the Kertamanah Tea Factory, built by Machinefabriek Braat Soerabaia in 1934. Editor: My initial reaction is… stark. The building itself, even in its skeletal stage, seems to dominate the landscape. It exudes a kind of silent ambition, you know? Like a concrete daydream. Curator: Exactly. The photograph captures that moment of burgeoning Modernism. Notice how the lines of the scaffolding echo and almost dance with the emerging architectural grid. It’s like witnessing the skeleton give rise to the building itself, all within a lens tinted by industrial prowess and colonial footprint. Editor: You can really see the emphasis on materials. All those concrete blocks – where did they come from? Who mixed them, poured them, hauled them into place? We talk so often about “progress” and “development” without acknowledging the very tangible human cost of bringing these visions to life. It makes you consider who benefits, and perhaps, who’s obscured in this celebration of industrial modernity. Curator: That shadow is stark, isn't it? This photograph isn’t just about architecture; it speaks volumes about labor and production, particularly in the context of 1930s Indonesia. This tea factory, conceived during Dutch colonial rule, represented more than just economic output. The act of creating, of physically assembling those bricks… It speaks to colonial aspirations and economic desires. Editor: Absolutely. It also highlights the photographer's choice. Why frame it this way? Was it purely a documentary gesture or something more? Perhaps it's meant to convey a sense of optimistic dynamism and growth. Curator: There is a touch of both, wouldn’t you say? Ultimately, this image, with its blend of architectural prowess and stark visual contrasts, has a lasting message that forces us to confront progress. Editor: A perfect encapsulation of a specific moment of both technical achievement and social disparity. Something to definitely chew on.