Detail: Known in ancient times as the ‘Island of Gold’, Sumatra was an early point of arrival for trade, new religions and ideas in Southeast Asia. Gold and natural resources made it a land of wealthy chiefs and princes and home to the powerful Srivijaya kingdom (7th to the 13th century).
These cross-cultural exchanges have created the unique and diverse Sumatra of today, known also for its natural attractions like Lake Toba. Discover Sumatra’s forgotten histories and unexpected richness through some 300 exhibits from the collections of the National Museum of Indonesia, the Museum Volkenkunde (National Museum of Ethnology), Leiden, the Asian Civilisations Museum and private collections in Sumatra: Isle of Gold. Look out for famous royal heirlooms such as the gold crown worn by the Sultan of Siak, treasures recovered from shipwrecks and ancient 2,500 year-old Bronze Age artefacts.
Sumatra: Isle of Gold is the first international touring show about Sumatran culture and is the highlight of the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Fokus Indonesia Festival.