Rodney Westerlaken delves into recent provenance research on four Buddha heads within a Dutch museum, unravelling their historical journeys and colonial entanglements.
The study examines the exhibition’s failure to provide comprehensive contextual information. By overlooking crucial aspects of the artefacts’ history and significance, the exhibition missed an opportunity to engage visitors in a nuanced understanding of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and colonial legacies. The paper advocates for transparent exhibition practices that prioritise dialogue with stakeholders and foster meaningful visitor experiences, aligning with the principles of ethical stewardship outlined in heritage interpretation theory.
