Yoni strutted by a naga, topped bij a non-contextual llinga (former Lichte collection). Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta district, D.I. Yogyakarta province, 9th century. Possibly 1865 - 1867

Curator: This photographic print captures a stone carving, dating back to the 9th century, depicting what is described as "Yoni strutted by a naga, topped by a non-contextual linga". The photo was taken between 1865 and 1867 in Yogyakarta by Isidore Kinsbergen. Editor: It has such an austere, solemn presence. The texture of the stone, the weight of those carved details... It feels imposing, almost intimidating. Curator: Right. What we see here are core elements of Hindu iconography. The Yoni, representing the divine feminine, the naga – a serpent, symbolic of protection, and the linga, the symbol of masculine energy and the god Shiva. Editor: And consider the cultural context! Kinsbergen, a European photographer, capturing these ancient symbols in 19th-century Java. What was he thinking as he framed this shot? Was it simply documentation, or was there an element of exoticism at play for a Western audience? Curator: The labor involved in producing something of this size must have been substantial. Each carved detail and placement tells a story of dedication to this craft, showing this art has a strong connection with its original means of production and social structures. Editor: Absolutely. The naga figure supporting the Yoni seems almost burdened. Does this indicate the weight of responsibility placed upon feminine power, or is it a tribute? The symbolism here is incredibly rich and complex. Curator: Remember, too, that images, especially religious ones, carry power. A photograph, at this time, might alter these symbols in unforeseen ways due to wider distributions. The consumption of the East by the West, you might say, now captured and repackaged. Editor: I keep coming back to the emotional impact of those serpentine features. It projects more of a defensive or fierce spirit than a supporting role. It’s all quite layered, isn't it? Curator: Yes, quite. When analyzing through the materiality and placement of the carvings, they open up unique ways of understanding religious devotion and power at the time of their original usage. Editor: Seeing how images change their impact and utility by recontextualization makes me question what they mean to people now. What did that snake become outside its original place? Curator: The image invites us to ponder about the shifts of production and symbolic interpretation over time and their impacts on society, which makes us think, doesn’t it? Editor: Indeed. The weight of history, literally carved in stone, presented through the lens of another history of its own. Food for thought.