Rijksmuseum Amsterdam to Host Landmark 'Slavery' Exhibition
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is set to open its first major exhibition exclusively dedicated to the subject of slavery. This significant exhibition explores a crucial and often overlooked aspect of Dutch history, presenting personal stories from the colonial period. It marks the first time the stories of the slave trade across both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are brought together in a single exhibition in the Netherlands.
Exploring Personal Narratives of Slavery
At the heart of the "Slavery" exhibition are ten personal stories, providing insights into the lives of individuals entangled in this complex historical system. Visitors will learn about enslaved people, slave owners, those who resisted the system, and individuals brought to the Netherlands through slavery. Through these narratives, the exhibition aims to illuminate how people navigated legalized injustice during a period spanning 250 years of Dutch colonialism.
Valika Smeulders, head of History at the Rijksmuseum, emphasized that by focusing on these true personal stories, the exhibition offers a deeper understanding of individual experiences. Taco Dibbits, General Director of the Rijksmuseum, highlighted the importance of delving into slavery as an integral part of Dutch history to gain a more complete picture and better comprehend contemporary society.
The featured individuals include both enslaved people and slaveholders, along with those who managed to break free, an African servant living in the Netherlands, and an Amsterdam sugar industrialist. An audio tour, featuring narrators like Joy Delima, Remy Bonjasky, and Anastacia Larmonie, will guide visitors through these diverse life experiences.
A Rich Collection of Objects and Immersive Experiences
The exhibition brings together a wide array of objects, paintings, and unique archival documents from national and international museums, archives, and private collections. Institutions contributing include the Nationaal Museum voor Wereldculturen, British Museum, National Gallery of Denmark, and Iziko Museums of South Africa, among others.
Visitors can expect to see exhibits never before shown at the Rijksmuseum, such as cherished items of enslaved people and tools used on plantations. Beyond visual displays, the experience is enhanced with oral sources, poems, and music. After exploring the exhibition, visitors are invited to engage with artists David Bade and Tirzo Martha from Instituto Buena Bista in Curaçao to process their impressions through new artworks in a project titled "Look at me now."
Unpacking the Dutch Colonial Period Across Continents
The exhibition covers the Dutch colonial period from the 17th to the 19th century, examining transatlantic slavery in Suriname, Brazil, and the Caribbean, highlighting the role of the Dutch West India Company (WIC). It also addresses Dutch colonial slavery in South Africa and Asia, where the Dutch East India Company (VOC) operated. The impact of the system within the Netherlands itself during this era is also explored, offering a broad geographical yet distinctively Dutch perspective on this history.
Integrating Slavery's Legacy into the Permanent Collection
To further deepen the understanding of this history, the Rijksmuseum will integrate discussions of slavery into its permanent collection. For a year following the exhibition's opening, approximately 70 objects within the main collection will feature additional labels explaining their previously unhighlighted connections to slavery.
A free audio tour, including a special interactive version for children, is an integral part of the exhibition. An accompanying book, "Slavery," published jointly by the Rijksmuseum and Atlas Contact Publishers, further details the lives of the ten featured individuals and will be available in February 2021. The exhibition's design is by AFARAI, led by architect Afaina de Jong.
For those planning a visit to Amsterdam, this exhibition offers a profound opportunity to engage with a vital part of history. Discover more about current and upcoming exhibitions in Amsterdam or explore other cultural highlights on Musemap (musemap.art).
