THE PAST IS PRESENT
Our Colonial Inheritance
The colonial past continues to shape nearly every facet of our daily lives, from the global economy to the language we speak, from our belief systems to the food we eat. As with mainstream colonial historiography, voices outside the dominant narrative are still largely absent. With this exhibition, we set out to create space for the other perspectives. But how do you give voice to what was silenced — to stories that were never recorded, or only captured through the lens of oppression? How do you piece together a narrative from fragments, absences, and distortions?
- Location
- Amsterdam (NL)
- Client
- Wereldmuseum
- Year
- 2022
- Service
- Concept, spatial design, graphic design
Beyond the colonial system
The exhibition exposes how colonial power structures continue to shape our society today. We approached this by weaving together the historical collection of the Wereldmuseum with contemporary stories and examples. Poetic metaphors help evoke the emotional depth of this combination. Through present-day issues, from institutional racism to modern-day slavery, we invite visitors to examine our colonial inheritance with a critical eye.
Three-part collage
Past and present interwoven
The exhibition exposes how colonial power structures continue to shape our society today. We approached this by weaving together the historical collection of the Wereldmuseum with contemporary stories and examples. Poetic metaphors help evoke the emotional depth of this combination. Through present-day issues, from institutional racism to modern-day slavery, we invite visitors to examine our colonial inheritance with a critical eye.
Three-part collage
What will you take with you? What will you let go? What will you make of the space that follows?
Project data
- 400Years of history
- 500Objects on display
- 100Collaborators
- 10Themes
The Wereldmuseum was originally built as the Colonial Institute of The Netherlands. This makes the museum itself part of the colonial inheritance. Though it has now become a museum of world cultures, much of its collection comes from the former Dutch colonies.
We developed the exhibition’s design and concept together with AFARAI. Our intensive collaboration, which also involved the museum, experts and countless partners, ensured that all the ideas and choices were constantly questioned, examined and turned upside down.
The result is an exhibition that fuels the conversation about how colonial history still shapes our lives today, while inspiring visitors to play their part in building a more equitable world.
It is refreshing to see the take on colonialism from the angle of a past colonial country. They did an amazing job of educating and acknowledging the past unlike some other colonial countries.
