Black Figures, Black Voices - ASCA

Programmed by participants at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA), University of Amsterdam, chaired by Patricia Pisters and Esther Peeren. The first session (4 July) focuses on the documentary Zwart Belicht (2008) by Tessa Boerman, which zooms in on black figures in (pre) 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings. In response to Zwart Belicht, Valika Smeulders (researcher at KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies) will discuss with Boerman issues of representation, colonial history and art historical canons. Performer Naomi Veldwijk will read from Robin Coste Lewis’ collection of poems, Voyage of the Sable Venus (2015). A second session (6 July) will focus on the work of the Surinam-Dutch poet and author Edgar Cairo, with a discussion led by Charl Landvreugd (Artist, Curator, Writer) on the importance of Cairo’s work, alongside the screening of parts of Cindy Kerseborn’s documentary Edgar Cairo: Ik ga dood om jullie hoofd (2011).


Black Figures, Black Voices: Zwart Belicht; Painted black

The first session of Black Figures, Black Voices focuses on the documentary Zwart Belicht; Painted Black (2008) by Tessa Boerman, which zooms in on the hidden stories behind black figures in 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings Shedding new light on famous paintings such as those of Pieter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as less famous works of art, the film tempts us to look at what was meant to be seen, but has often been overlooked. In response to Zwart Belicht, Valika Smeulders (researcher at KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies) discusses issues of representation, colonial history and art historical canons with Boerman, and performer Naomi Veldwijk reads from Robin Coste Lewis’ collection of poems, Voyage of the Sable Venus (2015).

youtube link ︎






Photographs by Aad Hoogendoorn


Black Figures, Black Voices: Edgar Cairo

A second session of Black Figures, Black Voices focuses on the work of the Surinamese-Dutch poet and author Edgar Cairo (1948-2000). The evening starts with a screening of Cindy Kerseborn's (Film Maker) documentary 'Edgar Cairo: Ik ga dood om jullie hoofd' (2011), about the life and work of this writer, poet, painter and performer. Kerseborn's film highlights Cairo's role as a pioneer in the thinking about a black identity and a black consciousness in the context of the Dutch colonial history and post-colonial present. During this evening, Charl Landvreugd (Artist, Researcher) will read from Cairo’s poems and present a performative lecture that focuses on reading Cairo as theory. In the exhibition space, a number of rarely exhibited paintings by Edgar Cairo will be on display. The program ends with time for questions and a dialogue between the audience, Charl Landvreugd and Cindy Kerseborn.

youtube link part one ︎
youtube link part two ︎





Photographs by Aad Hoogendoorn


back to Cinema Olanda Platform ︎