The exhibition “To Sea at The Crossroads,” co-curated by Lisandro Suriel (Sint-Maarten) as part of the Dutch Memorial Year for the History of Slavery, is set to open on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 4:00pm, at Expositieruimte 38CC [Exhibition Space 38CC] located at Papenstraat 5, in Delft, Netherlands. The exhibition runs through January 7, 2024. To quote Suriel, “This exhibition promises to shed light on the rich tapestry of his community’s heritage and offers a fresh perspective on history through a captivating visual narrative.” See information below for more on the exhibition and related activities.

Description: Photographer and artistic researcher Lisandro Suriel, from Sint-Maarten, embarks on an artistic exploration of overlapping Caribbean histories by posing the question, “Where do we come from, and how can we remember?” While the colonial era and transatlantic slave are often departure points in Caribbean history, Suriel delves even further into the past. His focus lies on resurrecting the often-forgotten era that predates coloniality. He invites us to view the Atlantic world through a different perspective, using his compelling photographic works characterized by a distinct visual language infused with magic, rituals, and storytelling. 

The exhibition To Sea at The Crossroads delves into the depiction of a world before colonialism—a time when the mysteries of nature took center stage, free from Eurocentric boundaries, and steeped in magic and rituals. Through various mediums such as photography, video, sculpture, and painting, these artists visualize a crossroads where the past and present converge. Suriel’s work serves as the common thread that connects these diverse narratives, creating a compelling and harmonious ensemble. 

Lisandro Suriel (1990, Sint-Maarten) has been invited by 38CC as a guest curator to collaborate on this exhibition. The foundation of this exhibition rests on his own body of work, complemented by contributions from three like-minded artists: Justin Reinir Croes (1990, Aruba), Ada M. Patterson (1994, Barbados), and Sondi (1993, Cameroon). 

Rituals and Memory:

Ada M. Patterson showcases a selection of works from her series Kanga for the Present. In this collection, she adorns textiles with images inspired by the emotional experience of changing bodies in a changing world.

Sondi’s video installation, Home 404, explores memories of her birthplace in Cameroon and addresses feelings of displacement and double consciousness. Existing at the crossroads, the piece is aimed at healing diasporic wounds of displacement through a ritual conjuring of digital masks representing various spirits of transition. 

Justin Reinir Croes also emphasizes the significance of ritual practices in their work by experimenting with indigenous natural materials. These rituals serve as a means for them to connect with a two-spirited self and their indigenous ancestors. Additionally, Croes aims to inspire decolonization in others by encouraging the embrace of one’s true self. 

Ghost Island as a Starting Point: Lisandro Suriel’s ongoing photography and artistic research project, Ghost Island, envisions a fictional island where dreams and reality converge. Based on the narratives of people from the African diaspora within the Black Atlantic, stretching from the West Coast of Africa, through the Caribbean, to Europe and the East Coast of the Americas, Ghost Island delves into a history that predates the widely recognized trans-Atlantic slave trade. Suriel employs stories, myths, legends, and tales to comprehend daily realities, using imagination as a tool for acquiring knowledge. He allows individuals to narrate their own stories and memories, actively involving them in the project. By collecting stories in Delft, particularly from the Afro-Caribbean community, the Ghost Island project extends beyond the Caribbean, bridging two continents. 

To Sea at The Crossroads: The exhibition To Sea at The Crossroads sits at the intersection of history, memory, mobility, spirituality, and imagination. In Afro-spiritual context, crossroads hold special significance as the point where the physical and spiritual worlds meet. “To see at the crossroads” represents the ability to engage the ancestral and spirit worlds. Throughout the ages, the sea has always been a central force to the existence and proliferation of humankind. For the original inhabitants of the Antillean archipelago, the sea became the focal point in their world around which they centered their mobility. Similarly, the ocean also took center stage for the African ancestors who traversed the Middle Passage, playing a pivotal role on the thresholds of bondage and escape. [. . .] 

Delft Discovers (Delft Ontdekt): Prior to the exhibition, from September 2nd to October 1st, 38CC will host the “Delft Discovers” exhibition. With this exhibition, 38CC provides a platform for contributions from the Delft community and its surroundings concerning the legacy of slavery and its contemporary impact. [. . .]

Collecting Stories in Delft: Lisandro Suriel will be present at 38CC during the exhibition to collect new stories for his Ghost Island project. He will be available on Friday, October 20th, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturday, October 28th, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Appointments at other times are also possible by arrangement. 

For more information, see https://amlatina.contemporaryand.com/pt/events/to-sea-at-the-crossroads/

Also see https://www.lisandrosuriel.com/bio

[Shown above: “Red Erzulie”]