It will be 40 years this summer, on 20 August, since the fifteenYear-old Antillean Kerwin Lucas Duinmeijer was murdered. His death, often seen as the first racist murder in Amsterdam, led to many protests as well as cooperation between organisaties from migrants To fight against racism. Curaçao-born sculptor Nelson Carrilho made the first anti-racist sculpture in the public space of the city. The sculpture, titled Mama Baranka, has been in the Vondelpark. To mark the event 40 years ago that left a big impression in the city, give a place in the collection, the Amsterdam Museum bought a small version of the Mama Baranka sculpture. In a mini–exhibition which can be seen from 23 June at the Amsterdam Museum aan de Amstel will use this sculpture, photos, documents and a short documentary to illustrate the impact of the murder and the genesis of Mama Baranka shown to the public.
Iconic Vondelpark sculpture
Kerwin's death shocked Amsterdam and the Netherlands and led to fierce reactions. The funeral From Kerwin was a farewell, but also a silent protest. A week after the killing, people went the taking to the streets in a massive demonstration. The Antillean community in Amsterdam and andhonor organisations of migrants united in the fight against racism.
Soon after Kerwin's death, the initiative to set up a sculpture that would draw attention in public spaces to his death as well as to the battle Against racism. Nelson Carrilho (Willemstad, 1953), who four had graduated from the art school in Utrecht, was approached by the Fundashon to make the sculpture. The judge judged meanwhile that racism had not been a substantial motive for the murder and Eventually, Carrilho was not given until early June 1984 of the municipality final commission for the sculpture which was to be unveiled just weeks later in August.
Carrilho chose a bronze sculpture Of a strong black woman, Mama Baranka, Mother Rock. The sculpture refers to the earth on the island where he himself and Kerwin came from, to African spirituality and to the power of women. Carrilho's mother and Hillie Holband, a Surinamese spiritual woman and singer from the Bijlmer, was the model for the sculpture.
The image Mama Baranka was unveiled in August 1984. Mama Baranka is now an iconic statue has become a feature in Amsterdam's Vondelpark. Every year, the murder of Kerwin commemorated, but the statue is also the focus of other commemorations. In recent months has the artist at the request of the Amsterdam Museum worked on a smaller version of Mama Baranka acquired by museum. With this, the museum aims to increase the impact of murder on Kerwin and the genesis of the first anti-racist sculpture in public space of the city give a place in the city of Amsterdam's collection.
Exhibition
From 23 June 2023 to 2 September 2023 is at the Amsterdam Museum on the Amstel a temporary mini–exhibition around the Mama Baranka sculpture on display. At the mini–exposition Mum Baranka, by Nelson Carrilho, the recent purchased small version of the sculpture made by Carrilho on show. A historical context is provided in the exhibition in which the image was created consisting of photos and newspaper articles, among others.
Short documentary
In addition to the image, photos and documents there is in the mini–expo Mama Baranka, by Nelson Carrilho also short documentary to watch. Robin van Erven Dorens, director of the documentary 'Nelson Carrilho - I am a black sculptor' made special vear the exhibition in the Amsterdam Museum a short documentary of 10–15 minutes. Together with curator of the Amsterdam Museum Annemarie de Wildt visited, among others, Marva Marten of the Fundashon Antiano Amsterdam and then CPN–geme councillor Tara Oedayrai Singh Varma. They recount in the documentary about their own experiences of racism and the impact of Kerwin's death.
Studio Panorama
On the roof at the heart of the collection presentation Panorama Amsterdam at the Amsterdam Museum aan de Amstel is Studio Panorama. New small temporary see presentations by artists, performers or collectives. The presentations engage with with the collection presentation Panorama Amsterdam and give a new, contemporary perspective on the objecten on the walls.
Studio L A designed an open space with abstract objects and shapes, which makers can use to display their work and appropriate this space in their own way. Studio Panorama can be visited with a regular entrance ticket.
An extensive public programme will be organised on 20 August 2023.
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