What is the point of memory if we refuse to remember at all?

I believe there is an, often understated, importance in the generational exchange of past experiences. In unison with this honest and unbiased exchange, I consider history and the meticulous remembrance of it as a vital tread towards collective improvement. History, in all it’s good, bad and ugly, should not be ignored. Instead, it should be analyzed and familiarized, with the intention of amelioration. Just as an individual learns from their mistakes in life, it should only be normal for the human race to do the same. History is full of lessons: it helps us to understand change, provides a better understanding of the world, and it provides us with the important opportunity to learn from the decisions made by those that came before us. We should be open to learning from the past, making sure we avoid mistakes made by previous generations, through which we can enable better paths for all. We should understand the past to preserve the future. Because what is the point of memory if we refuse to remember at all?

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In a world that seems increasingly galvanized by selective and performative moral outrage, I invite whoever may view these images and reads this text to leave behind the elements of self-righteousness and intolerance in exchange for the willingness and capacity to try and understand. It is not difficult to see that we live in a divided world where the will to listen diminishes by the day, where conviction is often done without any consideration of humanity, and where one can either be right or wrong without careful contemplation of what may lay in between. The experiences of my grandfather and his willingness to articulate what he observed has taught me the importance of listening. It has taught me the importance of being able to hold two ideas in our hands at the same time. It has taught me the importance of living a virtuous life, something which can only be achieved if we are willing to see the other side. And above all, it has taught me that the precondition of empathy is understanding. I hope, just as my grandfather would’ve hoped, that we can all regain our capacity and will to see beyond our own side, to move through life not viewing differences as a destabilizing force. Instead, choosing to expand our hearts and allowing love, variance and understanding to coincide.

 

In archiving and showcasing over 200 images, of which most were taken by my grandfather between 1946 and 1949, I do not suggest that these pictures offer a holistic perspective on all the various elements at play. However, I do believe that the images allow for a better look at a particular part of a much larger story. Photographs, whether intentional or not, are subject to tell stories that are the product of the photographer’s intention and vision. Similarly, the photographers influence over the frame can steer the viewer in a certain direction, but the meaning will be interpreted differently based on personal perspective and experience. In a way, photographs freeze time and preserve emotions and feelings. Therefore, I believe images should be approached as an invitation to reflect, to learn, to examine the interchanges at play, and to expand the exploration of the perspective of the other. Whether one likes it or not, photographs, and war photographs specifically, serve as important tokens of a particular side’s collective memory. With that, these images allow us to look back on moments in time, and although they might not offer all the perspectives needed to fully understand and grasp the complexity of this multifaceted epoch, they invite the viewer to consider and think about the various aspects that these images represent. At the end of the day, photographs are a visual collection of memories from which many layers can be constructed. Images serve as a sign of the times, often embedded in socio-cultural, political, economic and environmental clues. Visual memories add context to a particular situation, while allowing us to draw lessons from moments that have travelled through our space and time.

 

Bearing that in mind, the archived images allow the viewer to catch a glimpse of an often-overlooked part of the past. I sincerely hope that whoever will come to view these images feels inspired to delve even further into the history of Indonesia and the Netherlands; understanding the importance of remembering and learning from the past.