Hal met machines van suikerfabriek Ngandjoek op Java c. 1925 - 1930

Editor: So, this is a photograph from somewhere between 1925 and 1930 by Isken. It’s called "Hall with machines of sugar factory Ngandjoek on Java." It feels very documentary in style. Almost like a record, rather than something artistic. What symbols jump out at you when you see it? Curator: The entire image is steeped in symbols of colonial industrial ambition. Notice how the machines are the focal point, imposing and powerful. These towering vessels, the intricate pipework - they visually represent the extraction and transformation of the land. It’s more than just a photograph; it’s a monument to industry of that period, isn’t it? Editor: It definitely has that "monument" feeling. What’s interesting is that a sugar factory has strong ties to taste. Is the fact it is a 'sugar factory' important? Curator: Yes, very important. Sugar, beyond its literal sweetness, carried the bitter legacy of colonialism, trade routes, and exploited labour. To see this factory is to see a kind of visual echo chamber of power dynamics. Those machines aren't just refining sugar; they’re processing a whole history. Editor: I never thought of the sweetness of sugar as also reflecting something so complicated. I now see more symbolism, rather than simple documentation. Thanks. Curator: Indeed! Images like this help us confront the tangible echoes of history, revealing how profoundly objects can embed our cultural memory.