The Eye(s) Open Exhibition: New Perspectives on Colonial Film Heritage Through Art

This exhibition showcases eleven artists who have created new works responding to Eye's collection of colonial-era films from Indonesia and Suriname. The artists critically examine colonial structures, practices, and the role of the camera in perpetuating power.

The exhibition _Eye(s) Open_ features eleven artists who have produced ten new works inspired by Eye's extensive archive of approximately 2,000 colonial-era films from formerly occupied regions in Indonesia and Suriname. These historical documents, often recorded from a Eurocentric perspective by the occupying powers, contributed to maintaining an oppressive system. The artists, hailing from diverse countries, spent two years researching this eclectic and often problematic imagery. Highlights include Riar Rizaldi's film installation _Tropenkolder_, which re-enacts the experience of Javanese railway workers whose labor made early locomotive-mounted recording films possible. Jongsma + O'Neill's AI-based installation _Dominion_ offers an experimental portrayal of imagined encounters between Dutch Catholic missionaries and the local population of Flores. Jameisha Prescod's multi-channel installation _What We Inherit_ adopts an essayistic tone to explore Black Surinamese spiritual responses to illness and how colonial ideas about Black bodies have influenced healthcare for Afro-Surinamese and Marron communities. The exhibition aims to provide visitors with a diverse kaleidoscope of new perspectives, encouraging dialogue and highlighting Eye's 'Living Archive' approach to its film collection.

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of films, talks, and events. Visitors are directed to official ticketing details for the museum's general admission and any specific event bookings. For dining options, visitors can book online for Eye Bar & Restaurant.