#
Art in Dialogue with the Slavery Past of the Indian Ocean
Friday 6 June 2025, 12:00-14:00
As a follow-up to the symposium The Dutch Slavery Past in the Indian Ocean, on Friday 6 June we go deeper at Museum Sophiahof with two remarkable international guests: writer Isna Marifa from Jakarta (Indonesia) and visual artist Thania Petersen from Cape Town (South Africa).
In their work, both speakers reflect on how the history of slavery in the Indian Ocean continues to resonate, each from their own artistic practice. In this English-language gathering they talk with each other and with the audience about the role of art and literature in making colonial histories, heritage and identity visible. The session is moderated by historian and cultural adviser Wim Manuhutu.
About Isna Marifa
Isna Marifa (Indonesia) worked for thirty years as an environmental specialist with Indonesian and international institutions in the fields of sustainable development and environmental protection. She studied geology and gained a master's degree in Technology & Policy in the United States. Alongside her scientific interests, she also developed a passion for literature during her studies. In 2020 she made her debut with her first novel Sapaan Sang Giri, which appeared in English in 2022 as Mountains More Ancient. She also translates poetry, including work by the Australian filmmaker John Darling and the Indonesian poet and human rights activist Putu Oka Sukanta.**
About Thania Petersen
Thania Petersen is a multidisciplinary artist from South Africa who works with photography, performance and installation. In her work she explores identity, Islamophobia and the afterlives of colonialism and Western consumer culture, often referring to her Cape Malay heritage and Sufi traditions. She studied at Central Saint Martin's College of Art in London. Petersen has exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and at institutions such as Zeitz MOCAA (Cape Town), SAAVY Contemporary (Berlin) and the Pérez Art Museum (Miami). Her work is part of several leading museum collections, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.**
Registration
This gathering offers room for dialogue, exchange and deeper reflection, and is relevant to anyone interested in postcolonial art, transnational histories and the legacy of the Dutch slavery past. Will we see you at the museum on Friday 6 June?** Admission is free, but registration in advance is required**. You can register with Alies at A.Boenders@arq.org
This afternoon is a follow-up to the symposium 'The Dutch Slavery Past in the Indian Ocean' and is made possible by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and organised by the Indisch Herinneringscentrum, Museum Maluku, Stichting Pelita, Museum Sophiahof, Nancy Jouwe and Wim Manuhutu.
Greetings from Rotterdam: volunteers put their shoulders to the Moluccan archive
At our depot in Rotterdam, dozens of volunteers help Museum Maluku digitise photographs, documents and videos from Moluccan history. Read how this heritage project connects people and brings Moluccan history to life.
