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Halfway through 2022

The first half of 2022 has flown by and we have not been idle. First of all I want to thank all the new friends who have signed up online. With your digital membership card you have, at the very least, free admission to our exhibitions at Museum Sophiahof in The Hague. Thank you for the support that makes our work as a museum possible. New friends also often ask me the same questions about where we come from as an organisation, what exactly we do and what the plans are for the period ahead. Here is my answer.

A collection top 100

In 2012 our museum building in Utrecht was forced to close its doors. Since then the museum collection has been stored at two secure locations, but never touched again. Figuratively speaking, a broom needs to be taken to it. Perhaps literally too. That means the collection has to be brought together centrally, unpacked and re-inventoried. Deaccessioning objects will come up as well. I have set myself the goal of putting together a collection top 100. Through these objects we as Museum Maluku tell the Moluccan story from several angles. Meanwhile the museum collection also keeps growing through gifts.

Connecting & working together

In the light of the Dutch colonial past and history of slavery, and the important role the Moluccas played in it, Museum Maluku feels called to think from within the collection about the ethical and current questions that go with it. Particularly the way that past works through in present-day society. As an institution we explore how to connect these with our own collection, for instance by inviting young artists with a Moluccan background to reflect on them. And we seek collaborations with other museums such as Sound and Vision in Hilversum, where digitised media, among other things, take centre stage.

Video content & archaeological research

Over the past period we have produced video content such as 'Young Moluccans in the 90s' and the museum video series 'Maju Mundur'. Together with the website Molukserfgoed.com , the Wyldemerck project has begun, in which former residents search archaeologically for their now vanished camp. As I said earlier, we are now preparing an art project with young Moluccans of the 4th generation, but more about that later. And many volunteers have signed up via social media to work with the museum collection.

As I said at the start, we have not been idle. And the work goes on, with your support. The summer holidays are coming and I therefore wish you lovely, sunny days.

See you soon!

Read his other columns too: Looking back & focus for 2022, A museum without a museum