Who is Sutan Sjahrir, this erudite man who played an important role in the road to Indonesia's independence? Documentary photographer Isabelle Boon and anthropologist Fridus Steijlen are working on a four episode podcast series about this intriguing man.

For this podcast Isabelle and Fridus talk with people who have researched Sjahrir, read books about him and published his letters, and who have also visited places where Sjahrir lived and worked. In addition, Isabelle worked with young people in Indonesia looking for Sjahrir’s legacy. For a broader perspective, Isabelle and Fridus sometimes walk on side paths. For example, they discuss the photographer Cas Oorthuys who was present at Linggadjati in 1946. Fridus and Isabelle ask what impact the colonial repression in the form of political imprisonment had on people like Sjahrir.

The first episode of the podcast was published in November 2025, the second was published in December 2025. The third episode will follow end of January and the last episode will be released on 5 March, on Sjahrir's birthday.

In the webinar David Kloos will talk with Isabelle Boon and Fridus Steijlen about the ‘why’ of the podcast, their experience in the making of the podcast and whether or not their perspective on Sutan Sjahrir has changed. Special guest Siti Rabyah Parvati Sjahrir (Upik), daughter of Sutan Sjahrir, will also share her perspective on the podcast and respond to Isabelle’s project with youngsters in Indonesia.

Podcast

The podcast is available at:
Spotify
Apple

More information about the podcast which was part of a KITLV Atelier project can be found here

Speakers

Isabelle Boon is a documentary photographer with a specific interest in the individual resilience and positive power of people in relation to their surroundings. Her projects Heritage in Transition and I love Banda were both exhibited in Indonesia and in several museums in The Netherlands.

Fridus Steijlen is emeritus professor 'Moluccan migration and culture' at the VU University, Amsterdam. He was a senior researcher at KITLV, where he is now a honorary fellow. He is working on postcolonial migration from Indonesia and daily life in present day Indonesia. He coordinated the audiovisual project Recording the Future.

Siti Rabyah Parvati Sjahrir (Upik) is the daughter of Sutan Sjahrir. She studied English at Universitas Indonesia. Inspired by her father’s thoughts, values, morality and way of life, Upik dedicated her working life to education to connect people.

Moderator

David Kloos is a historian and anthropologist with a focus on Southeast Asia (particularly Indonesia and Malaysia), working as a senior researcher at KITLV. His main interests are religion (particularly Islam), gender, the politics of knowledge formation, visual methods, and the study of the social, political, and cultural aspects of climate change.

Format, date, time & venue

This seminar is a hybrid event and will be held in the conference room of KITLV, Herta Mohr building, room 1.30, Witte Singel 27 A, Leiden and online via Zoom, on Tuesday 20 January from 15.30–17.00 PM (CET).  

Image

Artwork ©2024 Adam Prayogi.

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