Exhibition Christianity and slavery in Museum Catharijneconvent

Mon May 6, 2:26 PM

Spare time

UTRECHT > Come to the exhibition this summer Christianity and slavery (June 29 to September 22, 2024) in Museum Catharijneconvent. Using historical sources, contemporary reflections, underexposed perspectives and impressive art, the exhibition provides insight into the often undiscussed relationship between Christianity and the Dutch slavery past. Christianity had a crucial influence on thinking about slavery. Both the pro and con arguments were substantiated by the Bible. These histories continue to this day. This is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on this subject ever.

Christianity and slavery sheds new light on a complex and charged history. The exhibition covers all areas where the Netherlands was active in the colonial past. It spans the period from 1596 – the moment when a ship carrying enslaved people docked in Middelburg – to the present.

Christianity, merchant and state

The 1596 event illustrates the complex relationship between Christianity, slave trade and the state. The mayor of Middelburg pleaded with the States of Zeeland for the freedom of the enslaved ‘including all baptized Christians’. His plea can be seen in the exhibition. The States of Zeeland proposed to help Africans find places to live where they could practice a craft and ‘grow up’ to become good Christians. The owner of the ship appealed against this to the national government, the States General. Ultimately, the States declared that he could do whatever he wanted with the ‘Moors’, but that he should not expect an official decision on this. The Dutch principles about freedom and faith turned out not to be valid for the enslaved.

With the Bible in hand

The Dutch literally became involved in slavery with the Bible in hand. Traders and preachers perform together. Overseas ministers were often provided with some enslaved people and many churches supplemented their income by starting a plantation. Families who became wealthy through the slave trade donated large sums of money to the church.

Despite the dominant support for slavery, there were always opposing voices in the Dutch colonial period, such as that of the mayor of Middelburg. What arguments did people use to reconcile the Christian faith with the exploitation of other people, or to oppose it? Why did some enslaved people feel appealed to by the Christian faith? How did the interaction between the religions of the enslaved and the Christianity of the Dutch proceed? What role did the churches play in the eventual abolition of slavery? And how is this past viewed now?

Modern Art

In addition to historical objects, contemporary art plays an important role in the exhibition. With work by Patricia Kaersenhout, Jörgen Gario, Jerrold Saija, Natasja Kensmil, Femke Dix, Nelson Carrilho, Kenneth Aidoo, Remy Jungerman, Ruben Cabenda and Dion Rosina. Serana Angelista is responsible for the graphic design of the exhibition. Bureau Namelok creates the spatial design. In the theatrical audience guidance, actor Gustav Borreman, in collaboration with theater maker Marielle van Sauers, expresses different perspectives from the past and present.

Christianity and Slavery is organized because of the Commemoration Year of the Past of Slavery, in close collaboration with scientists, social partners, artists, theater makers, church stakeholders – including SKIN (Samen Kerk in Nederland) – and non-church stakeholders. The scientific basis for the exhibition is the NWO research on Church and Slavery by the PThU, the VU and the University of Curaçao. The research done for the Churches and Slavery exhibition in the Luther Museum (2020-2021) was also used.

Extensive context program with partners

This summer, in collaboration with Keti Koti 030, the museum is presenting a weekly concert series with the theme of Christianity and slavery. On June 25, Museum Catharijneconvent, Keti Koti 030 and TivoliVredenburg are organizing a large public evening. Together with Oscam – Open Space Contemporary Art Museum, the museum is organizing a talk show with artists from the exhibition on September 8. There is also an extensive lecture program at Museum Catharijneconvent with, among others, Alex van Stipriaan, Maurice San-A-Jong and the curators Vincent van Velsen and Madelon Grant. In collaboration with the Heilzaam Slaveryverleden Foundation, three ‘dialogue tables’ will take place this summer. These are meetings in which ideas can be exchanged about themes from the exhibition with the help of a discussion leader.

Threads of our National slavery history

From July 2 to September 22, Museum Catharijneconvent will also be the production site for part of the tapestry from the project ‘Threads of our National Slavery History’. The monumental tapestry is a follow-up to the successful project of the Groninger Churches Foundation from 2022, for which Ricardo Burgzorg provided the concept. This project will be continued in the provinces of Utrecht and Zeeland. In several places we are working together on a tapestry based on a design by Munir de Vries. It will eventually be included in the collection of Centraal Museum Utrecht.