Recording the Future: An Audiovisual Archive of Everyday Life in Indonesia in the 21st Century

The systematic repetition of recordings will open up the possibility of making comparisons in order to measure change and continuity. Recordings are made from a fixed spot, from the top of a car and during walks of 3-4 hours. During the walk the filmmakers stop to talk with people, usually beginning by asking them what they are doing.

Every morning the headlines of available newspapers are filmed, to catch glimpses of national events, world news and local issues. In addition, a variety of themes and topics we are familiar with but tend to ignore in terms of documentation – a school class, Friday prayer at the mosque, a railway station etc. – is recorded. During the recordings a diary is kept in which decisions about locations, trajectories, themes, topics and persons are explained.

The recordings are made without a prefabricated script. The archive will eventually consist of the original and unedited recordings, a catalogue, a diary and digital photos. The original recordings are stored at DANS.

For viewing contact Fridus Steijlen at the KITLV: kitlv@kitlv.nl In 2008 a documentary based on the footage of the first four years is released together with an exhibition- 24 hours Indonesia- at the Royal Tropical Institute - Tropenmuseum.