Ayu Wulandari, M.A., our PhD student in New Futures for Indonesian Objects, has marked an important milestone by holding her proposal seminar on 2 December 2025. This stage is both crucial and mandatory for every PhD student at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. In this seminar, students are required to present their research proposal, including the specific topic they will pursue, potential sources, methodological framework, and the planned structure of the dissertation.
In her presentation, Ayu shared her plan to decolonize looted objects from Lombok by examining processes of memory production. She raised a critical question, such as did the displacement of these objects to Batavia in 1894 and subsequently to the Netherlands from 1896 onward also mark a disconnection between local communities and the objects themselves? By foregrounding memory, she argues that memory constitutes a crucial dimension of community knowledge, one that remains marginalized in broader discussions on Lombok’s looted objects. Through this approach, her research seeks to bring forward subaltern voices and contribute to epistemic justice.
During the seminar, Ayu received valuable critiques, questions, and suggestions from the discussants. Dr. Yulianti, for instance, emphasized the importance of considering the diversity of communities in Lombok when researching memory. She also advised Ayu to clearly determine which objects within the collection will serve as the primary focus, given that the looted collection consists of hundreds of pieces. Another discussant, Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, encouraged greater attentiveness in writing to avoid technical errors and mistakes. Substantively, he suggested that Ayu further examine colonial symbols related to the Lombok War and the looted objects, such as the Lombok Monument, which may contain specific signs and layered meanings connected to the war and objects. Both Dr. Yulianti and Dr. Wildan Sena Utama also highlighted the importance of periodization, suggesting that a thematic organization of the dissertation might strengthen the overall proposal.
The seminar also involved discussants from the students, who offered many insightful contributions. Among their suggestions was the idea of engaging contemporary Muslim communities in Lombok through oral history as a research method. They also encouraged Ayu to explore local folklore, as community knowledge about the war and the looted objects may have been transmitted orally across generations.
Overall, the insights shared during the seminar are invaluable for the further development and refinement of the proposal. With the constructive feedback and critical insights she received, Ayu is now better equipped to sharpen her framework and strengthen the direction of her dissertation.
