Kerken en Slavernij
Luther Museum Amsterdam
1 November 2020 – 28 February 2021
Group exhibition
November 2020 marks forty-five years since Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands. Dutch churches played a significant role in the colony: they introduced healthcare and education, yet also contributed to the perpetuation and legitimization of slavery. On June 15, 2013, the Raad van Kerken formally issued an apology in their “Declaration on the Slavery Past” for their involvement in slavery.
The exhibition Kerken & Slavernij at the Luther Museum Amsterdam examines the role of various churches in the history of slavery, with a particular focus on Suriname. It specifically explores the church’s involvement on plantations and in legitimizing slavery, while also addressing religious abolitionists, spiritual influences, and the differing experiences of faith between enslaved and enslavers. The exhibition highlights how these historical structures continue to manifest as misunderstandings and misconceptions within faith communities today.
The exhibition is curated by Vincent van Velsen, in collaboration with the working group Heilzame Verwerking Slavernijverleden of the Evangelical Lutheran Council. It features works by artists including Natasja Kensmil, Nelson Carrilho, Remy Jungerman, Patricia Kaersenhout, Marcel Pinas, and Carl Haarnack.