Unveiling Nusantara (2024)

Unveiling Nusantara is a manifesto that sparks conversations about decolonizing/de-canonizing type and graphic design to encourage the development of ‘local’ scripts and the ‘common informal’ of the Indonesian archipelago. The manifesto explores the ongoing challenges faced due to the influence and historical presence of Western colonial powers in the region.

‘Nusantara’ refers to the Indonesian archipelago as a whole, reclaimed as a term that predates the arrival of Western powers. Encompassing the concept of "buitengewesten", which originally referred to the outer islands beyond Java during the Javanese empire. However, in this context, it is to be used in a rebellious sense to reclaim the identity of these overlooked regions.. By embracing this term, "Nusantara" becomes a powerful symbol of Indonesian resistance, challenging the dominant narratives against the erasure of ‘local’ cultures and the imposition of foreign values.