Medanhotel 1914 - 1919

This anonymous photograph captures the Medanhotel, likely constructed during the colonial era. The building is framed by the ubiquitous palm trees, symbols of exoticism and tropical allure that permeated the European imagination. The columns and arches of the building's facade echo classical architectural motifs, signaling power and order. These elements, reaching back to ancient Greece and Rome, have been repeatedly invoked across centuries to legitimize authority. Yet, here they are transplanted into a vastly different geographical and cultural landscape, carrying a complex array of cultural messages. Consider how the classical arch, initially a structural marvel and a symbol of Roman imperial power, reappears in Renaissance art as a marker of humanistic ideals, and now stands as a symbol of colonial occupation. This act of replication tells of a deep-seated longing for the past as a way to legitimize and normalize a new, present reality. The act of framing the building with palm trees, which are a visual shorthand for the "exotic", evokes a sense of both wonder and psychological tension. These symbols and motifs underscore the complicated dynamics of power and cultural exchange inherent in the colonial project.