It also displayed items that show the hidden power of women. One of them is the mask belonging to Dewi Kalisuci, a crown princess of the Airlangga Kingdom who chose to become an ascetic and shun worldly life. The cup of holy water symbolizes not only physical beauty, but also compassion.
In “I can Be,” women are described as capable of becoming anything according to their wishes and talents. Women are shown as tough, potential and adaptable. Representing this theme is Prajnaparamita statue, the embodiment of Rajapatni Gayatri, who played an instrumental role in the glorious Majapahit Kingdom. There was also Keumalahayati, the first female admiral from the Kingdom of Aceh who guarded the sovereignty of the realm at the forefront of the archipelago’s spice route.
Although there are many installations that show female heroism, it also depicted women who choose to focus on taking care of their families. This can be seen in an installation depicting a rural kitchen, complete with a stove and cooking utensils from the past.
The exhibition, curated by Fifia Wardhani and Yustina Dwi Stefanie, displays the complexities of the world that women live in. A collection of 102 portraits belonging to various museums have succeeded in instilling a sense of pride in womanhood and the role of Indonesian women in nation building. (un)