Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam Recalls "Yere Mi Sten" Exhibition Marking Suriname's Srefidensi
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam recently commemorated a significant historical moment: the upcoming 50th anniversary of Suriname's independence from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975. This milestone was celebrated through a retrospective look at the groundbreaking exhibition Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten (Hear My Voice), which was previously on display at Foam from May until November 2025. This exhibition offered the first retrospective in the Netherlands dedicated to Augusta Curiel, a pivotal figure in Surinamese photographic history.
The exhibition highlighted the work of Augusta Curiel (1873-1937), who, alongside her younger sister Anna (1875-1958), operated a successful photography studio in Paramaribo between 1904 and 1937. The "Curiel sisters" created thousands of photographs, both in their studio and on location, commissioned to document life under Dutch colonial rule. Their extensive portfolio captured everything from official events and daily activities to diverse population groups and important locations across Suriname.
Examining Colonial Histories Through Photography at Foam
Curiel's photographs, while often produced on commission to project a positive image of Suriname as a Dutch colony, also subtly revealed the stark realities of the era. Suriname during Curiel's lifetime was marked by deep contrasts, racial hierarchies, and socio-economic disparities, particularly following the abolition of slavery in 1863 and the subsequent system of indentured labor. The Yere Mi Sten exhibition, co-curated with Lucia Nankoe, explored Curiel’s unique photographic perspective, shaped by her identity as a woman of color born and raised in Paramaribo, and how her images were produced, circulated, and interpreted at the time.
Born in Paramaribo in 1873, Augusta Curiel came from a diverse background; her mother, Henriëtte Paulina Petronella Curiel, was born into slavery and later freed. Augusta and her sister Anna became leading photographers in Paramaribo, with Augusta operating the camera and composing shots while Anna assisted with lighting, posing, and darkroom work. Their dedication often led them to work late into the night to meet the high demand for their photography.
The Enduring Legacy of Augusta Curiel's Work
Curiel's work is renowned for its technical excellence and strong compositional sense. Her images were widely disseminated through newspapers, magazines, postcards, exhibitions, souvenir albums, and family collections in Suriname, the Netherlands, and globally. The exhibition at Foam brought together a selection of original prints, modern reproductions, postcards, and photo albums, sourced from institutions like the Rijksmuseum and Wereldmuseum Amsterdam, as well as various private collections.
Today, Augusta Curiel’s photographs continue to spark important conversations about the colonial past, memory, history, and identity. They encourage viewers to look closely and critically, questioning what is visible within the frame and what remains unspoken.
For those interested in discovering more about photography and historical narratives, Musemap (musemap.art) offers a platform to explore cultural experiences. You can browse other museums or find more local cultural spots to continue your journey of discovery.
