The societal problem addressed by the consortium revolves around sites and objects from the ancient Hindu-Buddha era in Java. Furthermore, the consortium will also analyze the colonial (and postcolonial) knowledge constructions (established by institutions such as Bataviaasch Genootschap der Kunsten en Wetenschappen, Oudheidkundige Dienst in Nederlandsch-Indië, and Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng) in Dutch East Indies, now called Indonesia. The concern and fascination with the ancient past from the scholars and scientific communities laid the foundation for constructing the said past in relation to their lived past. This retrospective approach from the fields of history, archaeology, ethnography, and other disciplines (such as the arts) excavated long-lost civilizations and tried to make sense of the complex cultural interactions that happened before. The project aims to examine the role of arts, particularly within the curriculum and pedagogy of Technische Hoogeschool te Bandung (THS), now Bandung Institute of Technology (located in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia), focusing on the role of Prof V.R. Van Romondt's (1903-1974) legacy and the collection of Hindu-Buddha statues associated with him. The presence of these statues prompts questions about the implications of modern arts pedagogy on cultural understanding in contemporary Indonesian society and the absence of perceptible knowledge construction. The project seeks to address the gap between these artifacts and existing pedagogy, aiming to reintegrate them into the fabric of Indonesian reality with a deeper understanding of their significance. Through this research, the consortium aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Indonesian cultural heritage and its implications for contemporary society. With archival analysis of the role agents related to THS, its curriculum and object biographies approach, these projects will accumulate knowledge dissemination through workshops, film documentary and screening, exhibitions, international conferences, and academic publications that will be available to the public.
