Beeldengroep van Candi Singasari, Oost-Java 1822

This is Adrianus Johannes Bik's drawing of the sculpture group of Candi Singasari, Oost-Java. It is made of pencil, pen and brush in gray and depicts Parvati, the wife of Shiva, surrounded by gods from the Shivaite pantheon. Bik, born in the late 18th century, worked in a period where the Dutch colonial power expanded its influence in the Indonesian archipelago. As such, his art provides insight into the colonial gaze on Southeast Asian culture and religion. The drawing captures the spiritual essence and the artistic style of the Singasari Kingdom. It portrays Parvati, a powerful and revered goddess, highlighting the importance of female deities within the Shivaite tradition. It’s compelling to consider how Bik's rendering – observed through his cultural lens – captures, or perhaps alters, the local understanding and representation of these figures. The drawing invites us to reflect on the dialogues between different cultural narratives and the role of art in shaping mutual understanding.