Vatican Museums

Demonstrating through art that populations with different cultures, ethnic groups and religions can co-exist in harmony: this is the message at the heart of the temporary exhibition on Indonesia. Land of Harmony, which opened on 14 February 2014 in the Vatican Ethnological Museum. Over 200 artefacts on display complement the rich Indonesian collection of the Vatican Museums, made up of over a thousand objects from the 8^th to 19^th century, from refined bronze statues representing Hindu and Buddhist deities, to the Javan puppets for Wayang shadow theatre; from a miniature Qur’an to a crucifix decorated with motifs typical of the Asmat, a native group from Papua.
Many of the works on display are gifts offered by Indonesian communities over the years to the various Pontiffs.
The initiative was organised in collaboration with the Indonesian government and the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See.
Indonesia is a country made up of thousands of islands, where many ethnic groups live side by side, each one rich with its own vibrant cultural tradition. This cultural melting pot has encouraged the encounter of different religions and today the Indonesian people are proud to present themselves to the world as an example of tolerance and coexistence between different cultures and religions.
Different indigenous religions are still practiced today in many regions of Indonesia, strengthening the pride in ancestral traditions, providing a sense of belonging and cultural identity. The encounter between diverse indigenous traditions and those that arrived in Indonesia over the course of the centuries produced a range of particular cultural and religious expressions.
The Indonesian Collection of the Vatican Ethnological Museum consists of more than one thousand objects representing the people, cultures and religions of this vast geographical area. The selection of artefacts presented here allows us to appreciate and learn about the rich artistic heritage of Indonesia, through ancient and contemporary objects.
The oldest collection, donated by Bishop Eugène Tisserant (1884-1972), consists of 40 fine bronze statues, dating from the 8^th to the 14^th century representing Buddhist and Hindu divinities. From Java comes the richest and most complete collection featuring a group of 30 puppets for the wayang shadow theatre, and a screen with three panels. The Islamic world is represented by a unique miniature Qur’an, dating from the late 19^th century with characters so small it requires a magnifying glass to read. Christianity is represented by several works in Indonesian styles: of particular interest is a crucifix decorated with the motifs of the Asmat people, an indigenous group of Papua. Other indigenous Indonesian cultures are also documented by many objects that skilfully illustrate their ancient traditions: from Kalimantan there are aver 300 items, mostly representing everyday and ritual use; from Sumatra and the island of Nias there are 50 artefacts, including the prominent ancestor statues. Many other ethnic groups are represented in the Museum: Aceh, Batak, Bugis, Makassar, Toraja, and the Kenyah, who are the creators of fine woven fabric and beautiful shields with magical patterns.
Finally from Bali there are: an elegant pictorial representations on palm leaves, lontar, narrating a popular love story, and a statue of Singa, the legendary winged dragon-lion.