Symposium Kartini Room

At the end of 2024, a vote was held to choose a new name for the ‘VOC-zaal’, and 'Kartini Room' was voted as the favourite option. Kartini was an influential Indonesian advocate for women’s rights and education – but why has her name become such an important symbol? During this symposium, moderated by Lara Nuberg, we will explore Kartini's life and work, reflect on the considerations behind the renaming, and address the future use and redesign of the room.

Programme

13:00 – 13:10: Artistic opening by Farida Nabibaks and Lara Renfrum, from Reframing HERstory Art Foundation
13:10 – 13:15: Welcome by Marieke de Goede
13:15 – 13:20: Opening by moderator Lara Nuberg
13:20 – 14:00: Round table discussion with five UvA researchers
14:00 – 14:15: When Silence Speaks: A presentation on the redevelopment of the space by dr. Corina Apostol, assistant professor in the Art History department together with Museum Studies (Heritage Studies) interns Alexandra Borla and Yunyu Du
14:15 – 14:30: Break
14:30 – 14:40: Musical intermezzo
14:40 – 15:10: Making Choices: The Kartini Room as a Mirror of the Postcolonial Turn. Lecture by Hanco Jürgens
15:10 – 15:25: Literary intermezzo by Suze Zijlstra
15:25 – 15:40: Reflection on the name change by Guno Jones, professor of the Anton de Kom Chair
15:40 – 15:50: Round up: how do we continue?

Panel members round table discussion

We will learn about the historical figure of Kartini and her cultural legacy through a round table discussion with five UvA researchers:

• Yara Voss
• Najwa Abdullah
• Lamia Damaya
• Sanjukta Sunderason
• Marrigje Paijmans