Previously, the hall contained a reconstruction of the VOC's past, designed in the 1990s. During the refurbishment, the balustrade, table and chairs, and reproductions of colonial paintings were removed. These have been replaced by three new art installations by Daisy Ranoe, Herlambang Bayu Aji, and Ratri Notosudirdjo. The project was coordinated by Corina Apostol, Assistant Professor of Social Practice Art and Visual Culture in the Art History Department at UvA, and a curator.

Identity, nature and collective memory

Each artist contributed to the project in their own way. In ‘We Are Here’ Daisy Ranoe focuses on the identity experiences of individuals connected to both the heritage of former colonisers and colonised communities. Using a large wall collage of photographs and statements from people she interviewed as a result of an open call, she illustrates how these dual identities are experienced.

Herlambang Bayu Aji created a video installation entitled ‘Macan-Macan Lewung’  incorporating shadow play, focusing on the influence of colonialism on Indonesian nature and its contemporary political impact.

Ratri Notosudirdjo developed a theatrical installation entitled ‘Betweens, tyrannies, acts of fiction’, made from wooden elements recycled from the previous furnishings in the space.Through this, she reflects on collective memory and how the past is represented. For this, she used parts of an earlier VOC reconstruction.

The three artists were interviewed about their creative process, their sources of inspiration, and their experience of working in the Kartini Room. The videos can be viewed below.

Educational room

The redesign has given the room a new purpose. From now on, it will be available for educational and research activities related to the Dutch colonial past, (de)coloniality, slavery, race and racism, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

The room can accommodate working groups of up to 30 people. Additionally, new audiovisual equipment has been installed, and the room contains a small library with literature related to the room's themes.