De tocht van Overste van Daalen door de Gajo-, Alas- en Bataklanden c. 1905

Editor: This is a collage on paper and wood by J.C.J. Kempes, circa 1905, entitled "De tocht van Overste van Daalen door de Gajo-, Alas- en Bataklanden" - or, "The expedition of Colonel van Daalen through the Gajo, Alas and Batak lands." It has the look of an old book, maybe a journal. I can’t read Dutch, but the title seems… ominous? How do you interpret this work? Curator: That's an astute observation. While the physical object presents itself as a container of knowledge and history, we need to critically examine whose history it’s preserving and at what cost. Given the title, referencing a military expedition, we must ask: what stories are being told, and what perspectives are being erased or silenced? Editor: So, the emphasis on it being "about" a military expedition is problematic. Curator: Exactly. This work seems to sanitize or even glorify colonial violence. Consider the materials: collage, paper, wood – seemingly innocuous, everyday things. Yet, they’re used here to create a monument, however small, to a colonial figure, someone involved in the violent subjugation of people in present-day Indonesia. We must also consider the Batak people's historical and cultural context, who suffered greatly. Editor: I see. So, it's not just an artifact; it represents a very specific, and potentially biased, historical viewpoint. Should art like this be displayed then? Curator: That's the key question, isn’t it? Burying it serves no purpose, but to exhibit it responsibly we have to expose these issues. Through education we provide visitors with the framework needed to analyze it critically and to have respectful discussion, especially around power and representation. Editor: It certainly provides an entry point for difficult conversations. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is vital to confront our past and this art invites us to do just that.