Isradina Paricha, a master’s student in the Master Program of Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), presented her research at the Asian Studies Conference Japan 2026, held on 4-5 July 2026 at Sophia University, Tokyo. During the conference, Isradina participated in the panel “Engendering Relevance, Moving Beyond Present State: Critical Perspectives on the Cultural Heritage of Indonesia” and presented a paper entitled “Curator’s Paradox: Reviving Collection Narrative and Re-reading the Bibis Museum in Bangunjiwo in a Post-colonial Perspective.”
The research takes the Bibis Museum as a case study to examine the paradox faced by curators in preserving cultural heritage. Rather than maintaining the meaning of collections, curatorial practices and the relocation of objects into museum display cases may disconnect them from their original social, historical, and cultural contexts. As a result, collections are often understood as static artifacts instead of being recognized as part of the living experiences of the communities that created and used them. Using a postcolonial perspective, the study re-examines the Bibis Museum as a space whose meanings continue to be negotiated. It explores several strategies to reactivate museum collections through narrative reconstruction, community engagement, and artistic interventions that create new relationships between objects, museum spaces, artists, and local communities. The findings suggest that museums have the potential to move beyond their role as storage and exhibition spaces and become more inclusive and participatory spaces for dialogue. By reconnecting collections with their social contexts, cultural functions, and embedded values, museums can serve as spaces for knowledge production that are more relevant to contemporary society while encouraging a more critical understanding of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
Isradina’s participation in this international conference reflects the academic contribution of UGM students to expanding global discussions on museums, curatorial practices, and cultural heritage preservation. It also strengthens international academic collaboration while introducing an Indonesian perspective on cultural heritage management that is more contextual, inclusive, and community-oriented.
This activity contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education, by disseminating research findings and promoting knowledge exchange through an international academic forum.
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, by supporting sustainable and community-based cultural heritage preservation and management.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening international academic networks and collaboration in the fields of cultural heritage, museums, and arts. (IP)
