Sony Saifuddin’s efforts to promote museums as educational and tourist attractions are clearly evident in various events that have been held, such as the celebration of Indonesian Museum Day 2024 at the Kotagede Museum and the Yogyakarta Cultural Festival 2024 at the Pleret Museum. Currently, the man who completed his studies at the Department of Archaeology at UGM in 1997 is entrusted to lead two museums—the Kotagede Museum and the Pleret Museum—and has been appointed as the Head of the Museum Section at the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Affairs Office. Previously, Sony served as a cultural officer in the museum sector at the Sonobudoyo Museum.
“The memorable moment was when I accompanied the Museum Quiz Competition (LCCM) to Jakarta, and alhamdulillah, we won third place nationally,” Sony recalled when asked about memorable moments during his time as Head of the Museum Section.
Behind the victory of the Yogyakarta delegation in the Museum Knowledge Competition, Sony explained that he was involved in preparing the participants, including training and mentoring, which also involved several alumni from the Archaeology Department at UGM. Various activities were conducted, such as providing materials and mental training to prepare for the national championship round.
Sony also recalled the moment of the abhiseka ceremony held in Temanggung. At the time, he felt quite challenged as he had to walk in the darkness of the night and in the rain through a cemetery. However, that moment became an unforgettable one for him amidst other experiences such as field studies and spending time with professors and friends.
“We need to update our knowledge about archaeology itself because nowadays AI is being used. Our field reconstructs the past, which can be useful for interpreting history. However, we must remain critical because as evidence becomes scarce, interpretations multiply. For the younger generation, study seriously because that’s the challenge of technology,” explained Sony.
Author: Febriska Noor Fitriana
Image: Febriska Noor Fitriana
Editor: Sektiadi
