Public history

HeritageX: Where Material Culture Meets Technology and Artistic Practice

Eko Saputra
Recording of the lecture by Eko Saputra at the C²DH on 26 November 2024.

The lecture seeks to foster interdisciplinary discussions at the intersection of digital technology, contemporary artistic practices, and heritage imagery, exploring how these realms inspire new perspectives, creative expression, and critical inquiry, resonating with an audience curious about the evolving relationship between tradition and innovation. Drawing on two projects I have developed—CerCAST (Ceramics Route of Castelli) and LICA Routes (Locating Indonesian Cultural Archives)—the lecture demonstrates how crossing disciplinary boundaries can challenge and broaden current understandings of identity, heritage, and cultural narratives in an era shaped by digital hybridity. Through cultural route visualization and artistic reinterpretation, these projects reveal how technology can uncover layered stories and reinterpret the past, encouraging audiences to reflect on their own connections to heritage and place.

Another key topic includes authorship and how digital tools reshape who can represent heritage, alongside the evolving role of historical imagery in artistic practice. CerCAST uses digital thematic route modeling to explore the ceramics heritage of Castelli, connecting historical artisanship with contemporary audiences. LICA Routes traces the journeys of Indonesian artifacts to European museums, placing them within complex cultural and historical narratives. By weaving together these themes, this lecture aims to inspire a nuanced understanding of how digital technology and art are reshaping our cultural landscape, showcasing the potential for interdisciplinary approaches to reinvigorate heritage, deepen cultural engagement, and enrich our sense of identity in an increasingly interconnected world.

Eko Saputra was the 2nd global south guest fellow at the C²DH in November. He is s an interdisciplinary artist and researcher, originally from Batang Buo, West Sumatra, Indonesia, and currently based in Venice, Italy, where he leads his own studio practice, Studio Angge and is currently pursuing his PhD in History and Heritage Studies at the University of Teramo.