The role of museums in preserving and sharing Indonesian art and culture
Written by Haiza Putti | Read in Indonesian
Some of us may still have difficulty distinguishing between museums, galleries, art spaces, and other types of art spaces. Through a talk with Museum MACAN, together we will explore the work of museums and their role for the public in building an understanding of art and culture in Indonesia.
The museum is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to create an art space for the wider public. Museum MACAN Director and Curator Aaron Seeto explained that a museum also acts as a place for cross-generational education. This is the main characteristic that distinguishes it from other art spaces, such as galleries. A museum acts as an art learning space, while a gallery is a place for buying and selling works of art.
"That's one of the real differences, it's a non-profit role of art. It means that we don't make money from what we do. Not for profit, [we are] entirely to showcase the idea of art itself. The idea of art education and the purpose of sharing it with current and future generations," Aaron told TFR.
Oftentimes, museums become the first art experience for visitors. Therefore, museums play a major role in building understanding, even for the general public. "Therefore, we must be open and welcoming to them, but also provide understanding and education so that they can see and understand the artworks displayed at exhibitions," he added.
Since its opening in 2017, Museum MACAN has played a role in maintaining and sharing its collections. We can find works by prominent Indonesian artists, such as Raden Saleh, Sudjojono, and Arahmaiani, in Museum MACAN's collection. The museum also often displays the works of artists from Japan, and South Korea, as well as American and European countries, such as pop artists Keith Haring and Damien Hirst.
"The reason why we developed this collection is to be able to share history with the Indonesian people. Children can see their history presented in the museum and they can visit [us] to learn about Indonesia’s independence and the emergence of modern Indonesian art through one of the most important ways, namely the works of artists," said Aaron.
A museum is a place to maintain physical archives and historical narratives of art and culture
So, where does a museum get its collection from? Museum MACAN's permanent collection of artworks, which reaches up to 600 works, is collected through the support of Haryanto Adikoesoemo, an art collector who has been active for the last 30 years.
Museum MACAN also often collaborates with other collectors, even other museums, to complete the historical narrative of an exhibition. Examples are Agus Suwage's solo exhibition “The Theater of Me” and the “POSE” exhibition.
To present a complete narrative of 30 years of Agus Suwage's journey, Museum MACAN collaborated with 20 collectors. Museum MACAN also collaborated with the Jakarta Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in presenting the work of artist S. Sudjojono to complete the historical narrative of Indonesian art that he displays.
"Our collection can't tell a story by itself. By working together, we can develop new perspectives," Aaron explained.
Through these observations, we can assess the important role of collectors in building an art ecosystem. They not only collect artworks for their enjoyment but also preserve and share them with the public.
Collaboration with other museums also prioritizes the sharing of sources and information and building research. Aaron added that research is indeed the most fundamental thing a museum does to be able to present its best exhibits.
"When we look at a work of art from a different period, we can see history from a slightly different perspective. We will be able to empathize with the artist and the subject. And the museum believes that this is very important in the multi-cultural, multi-ethnical and multi-religious context of Indonesia," he explained. What a museum presents provides an opportunity for the public to see the world from a different perspective.
Museum MACAN’s collection and program management
The process of building Museum MACAN’s programs and activities does not occur with a snap of a finger.
Aaron explained how curators play an important role in managing collections to be shared and spark public curiosity through historical research and programs.
The process of developing Agus Suwage's solo exhibition "Theater of Me" at Museum MACAN took up to three years. The process was filled with long discussions, curatorial works, and negotiations between the museum and supporting parties to make the exhibition complete.
Aaron said one of the biggest challenges for a museum is its duty to maintain the collection. Since the beginning, Museum MACAN has prepared a series of procedures to protect its works, such as maintaining the temperature of the storage room and avoiding excessive UV exposure by rotating the exhibited works. This is what makes museums change their displays.
"The main reason is our role as a museum that must take care of each object and maintain them so that future generations can continue to enjoy them. This involves planning and standard operating procedure," said Aaron.
The role of museums in presenting the best display of the development of art and culture
Art captures the value of events and becomes part of history. Its ability to be a meeting point between various aspects of life is presented by museums through art and historical narratives via educational programs programs programs programs and exhibitions that support art education. At least for Aaron.
Managing and articulating the language of art in a museum is not only the role of a curator. At Museum MACAN, we can find positions that may be unheard of, namely education curator and exhibition designer.
Education curators are responsible for developing educational programs to help the audience reflect and see themselves in art history. Museum MACAN Education Curator Nin Djani (Nindy) said the goal is for the public to empathize with what happened in different times and periods.
Nindy said she works based on research to be able to distribute ideas and concepts for exhibitions. She must be sensitive to topics and trends of various circles of society, from the general public and children to the education community. The aspects of security, accessibility, format, and innovation are the main considerations in developing programs for the public.
Another important role that supports the integrity of a museum’s programs and exhibitions is the exhibition designer. At Museum MACAN, this position is held by Cindy Tan, who has worked as an exhibition designer for the past decade.
Exhibition designers are tasked with building the best experience for exhibition visitors so that they can understand and enjoy all parts of the exhibition through their experience.
Cindy explains her role through an analogy, "We could say that works of art are objects that are placed in one bag, then the curator decides on the narrative of an exhibition. The narrative is then given to an exhibition designer," she explained.
An exhibition designer must have a sense of impression that will be presented to visitors. This is done through the consideration of colors, shapes, and the room itself. No less important is the display of a work. Thus, studying the behavior of visitors in public places from time to time is one of the main essentials.
