Offerplaats op Bali, voormalig Nederlands-Indië c. 1890 - 1911

This is Onnes Kurkdjian's photograph 'Offerplaats op Bali, voormalig Nederlands-Indië', taken at a time when Bali was part of the Dutch East Indies. Kurkdjian, of Armenian descent, occupied a complex position as a photographer working within a colonial context. In this image, we see Balinese women in what appears to be a sacred ritual. One woman sits serenely, while another stands, possibly preparing an offering. The photograph captures a moment of cultural exchange and power dynamics. It’s impossible to ignore the Western gaze inherent in such photography of this period. What does it mean to document a culture through the lens of a colonizer? Did Kurkdjian’s own experience as a minority influence his approach? The photograph invites us to consider how cultural practices are framed and interpreted, and whose stories are being told. What does it mean to see these women through the eyes of someone who may not fully grasp the nuances of their spiritual lives? This photograph stands as a reminder of the complicated layers of identity, representation, and history.