Demodernising & Decolonising

We want to develop as a decolonial and demodern museum. How do we do that? Principally by critically examining history, especially the colonial and modern past.

Colonial thinking is closely linked with modernity. The Van Abbemuseum wants to break away from this frame of thinking and embrace a decolonial perspective. How is colonialism still explicitly or implicitly present in colonial empires, like the Netherlands? How can art help us to look at the world in a less modernist and more holistic, grounded, and 'life-friendly' way?

The Van Abbemuseum's past

The Van Abbemuseum's origins trace back to the tobacco plantations in what was then the Dutch East Indies. In 1936, the museum opened its doors, thanks to the efforts and a financial gift of cigar trader Henri van Abbe. The tobacco he traded and from which he derived his wealth mainly came from plantations on Deli (in Sumatra), where working and living conditions were poor and often inhumane. To tell a more complete story, we present the Hidden Connections research in the museum's basement, focusing on the oppression and resistance on these plantations. Together with our visitors, we want to learn about our colonial past and its lasting impact, which can be felt to this day. In March 2024, we will extend the stories in the basement with findings from current research in Sumatra and the Netherlands.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner Too?

With the installation Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner Too?, patricia kaersenhout is pushing for a more complete and honest representation of history. Her artwork consists of four large triangular tables, set for sixty black women and women of colour. All of these women resisted oppression and fought inequality in their lives. The Van Abbemuseum has acquired one of these four tables for its collection.

Activating the artwork

Throughout the exhibition, the artwork is complemented by an extensive programme of activities, engaging with the artwork rather than just placing it in the museum space as a static object. The stories of fifteen women from diverse backgrounds serve as the foundation for this programme, which consists of a series of events. At the Van Abbemuseum, this involved workshops and performances curated by Aminanta Minte, Nafayah Kadmairubun, Shammai Martis, Michelle Jonker, Munganyende, and Stichting Ik Wil.