Acknowledge Rebuild

Curated by Patricia Kaersenhout, Kunsthal presents Acknowledge Rebuild – Wunderkammers of Rotterdam's Colonial Past, designed as a total installation as a memorial for the Slavery Memorial Year.

In a diverse city like Rotterdam, much of its colonial past is unknown to the masses. Works from emerging artists Bouba Dola, Tommy van der Loo, Devika Chotoe, Ada M. Patterson and Gloria Wekker challenge the audience to look at the colonial past and history of slavery from a different perspective, with the installation designed by Rosa te Velde. Historic objects from collections and archives of museums as well as family properties and personal stories of the residents of Rotterdam, painted by artist Dominique Latoel, are shown to illustrate the history of the city's colonial past.

Inspired by 'cabinets of curiosities', the installation is displayed with treasure rooms, showing objects such as taxidermic animals, shells, paintings, and scientific instruments. These objects refer to the national pride, military glory, and economic prosperity of Western civilisation. Hidden behind these objects themes like war, poverty, racism, human trafficking, and forced labour are highlighted.

Acknowledge Rebuild – Wunderkammers of Rotterdam's Colonial Past is open at the Kunsthal, Rotterdam until 29th October.