The Ottoman armor, replica of Cheng Ho’s ship, the legacy of Sumenep Palace, and Augmented Reality technology. The Indonesian Islamic Art Museum in Lamongan not only offers additional Islamic literacy but also interactive 3D visual experiences.
WAHYU ZANUAR BUSTOMI, Lamongan
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Thousands of kilometers apart. Separated by centuries. Yet, the sound of the Ottoman Empire’s cavalry still resonates in Paciran, Lamongan, East Java, even today.
How? It’s simple! Just visit the Indonesian Islamic Art Museum, located within the Wisata Bahari Lamongan (WBL) complex. By simply opening the app and scanning the barcode, Ottoman soldiers, from an empire based in Turkey that thrived between the 13th and 19th centuries, will appear in 3D.
Also known as the Islamic 3D Museum, this museum encapsulates the history of Islamic civilization across the world, detailing how Islam spread to the archipelago. However, it doesn’t just showcase historical artifacts. Through Augmented Reality (AR) technology, visitors are immersed in a three-dimensional interactive world.
The Indonesian Islamic Art Museum is divided into four zones: the theater zone, the gallery zone of Islamic empire relics, the diorama zone, and the 3D zone.
Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a large screen and dim lighting. Equipped with comfortable seats, they are shown a 15-minute film about the history of Islamic civilization.
Moving forward, visitors encounter the gallery of Islamic empire relics. With hundreds of collections displayed, one of the most attention-grabbing is from the Ottoman era, including the war costume or cavalry armor.
The armor is made of iron to protect the wearer from sword strikes. It includes shields, helmets, and boots. “The armor alone weighs 17 kilograms, but when worn with everything else, it weighs about 60 kilograms,” said Wiwin Maria Ulfa, a storyteller from the Islamic Art Museum.
The Zulfikar Shamshir sword is another notable item. According to Wiwin, this sword was crafted to resemble the sword of Prophet Muhammad. There’s also a Quran written in gold ink from the Ottoman era. “The gold ink was used only on three Surahs: Al-Fatihah, Al-Kahfi, and An-Nas,” she explained during a tour with Jawa Pos.
Almost every corridor has a literacy board with graphics and special barcodes. This is what sets this museum, which opened in late 2016, apart from others. Visitors can experience interactive virtual engagements directly.
Wiwin explained that before entering, visitors are encouraged to download the Islamic Art Museum app from the Play Store. By simply placing their device over a special barcode, they can interact and take photos.
According to Wiwin, there are 3D icons of mosques from around the world available for photo opportunities. At first glance, these appear ordinary. But through the app, the buildings and the call to prayer sound, and the sound adapts to the location of the mosque.
From Indonesia, visitors can explore the journey of Wali Sanga, the Islamic Mataram Kingdom, and the Sumenep Palace.
In the diorama zone, there are photo spots mostly themed around the story of Commander Cheng Ho. His ship from China is recreated in great detail, and visitors can even board it. In the 3D film area, the theme is different: a dinosaur film with special glasses. This zone emphasizes visual fun and education, which is generally highly anticipated by children.
Wiwin explained that on regular days, the museum receives around 50–100 visitors, with an entrance fee of Rp 15,000. The majority of visitors are students. From Friday to Sunday, the entrance fee increases to Rp 20,000.
Hariyono, one of the visitors interviewed by Jawa Pos, shared that the combination of the museum’s collections with AR technology not only provides Islamic history literacy for children but also offers an exciting 3D visual experience.
“Thus, an interactive connection is formed, which is quite engaging. Plus, the app also provides a virtual guide,” he said.