Photo exhibition ‘The widows of Rawagede’

Photo exhibition by Suzanne Liem, which will be shown during the KITLV symposium ‘Conflict and conscience: the Indonesian decolonization and the uncomfortable past of the Netherlands’ on 10 December. The exhibition tells the story of the widows of Rawagede, Java.

On the 9th of December 1947, nearly the entire male population of the village of Rawagede (currently known as “Balongsari”) in Indonesia, was executed by Dutch soldiers. Eight widows and the only living male survivor sued the Dutch government in 2009. In May 2010 the Dutch government pleaded guilty, though it stated the case statute-barred, and plaintiffs had no right to compensation. Nevertheless, in September 2011, plaintiffs won their case. During the annual ceremony to commemorate the massacre, the Dutch government apologized to the people of Rawagede and the world. The widows received € 20.000 each.

Suzanne Liem was born in 1965 in the city of Delft. Her first camera was given to  her by her father when she was 8 years old. From then on she  photographed the people around her for fun untill – in 2002 – she  decided to attend the Academy of Photography in Amsterdam. Suzanne  graduated in 2006. Her specialties are `documentary portraits`. Her  photographs show people as she sees them in their own environment.  Double portraits often show the interaction between people or the lack  thereof. More information can be found on Liem’s website …>>

More information on the symposium ‘Conflict and conscience: the Indonesian decolonization and the uncomfortable past of the Netherlands’ …>>