The Dutch Identity? Half Sugar, Half Sand
De Paviljoens, Almere, The Netherlands
22 June 2012 – 23 September 2012
Group exhibition
Natasja Kensmil participated in the group exhibition The Dutch Identity? Half Sugar, Half Sand at De Paviljoens in Almere, the Netherlands, from 22 June to 23 September 2012. Curated by Hanne Hagenaars, editor of Mister Motley, this exhibition served as the final manifestation of a comprehensive project that investigated the construction of Dutch identity through the lens of contemporary art.
The exhibition explored parallel histories in Dutch art after 1960, engaging with societal transformations such as migration, interculturality, the development of new towns, and the postcolonial history of the Netherlands. It challenged the notion of a singular national identity, instead presenting it as a complex, multifaceted construct shaped by diverse and often contradictory narratives.
Kensmil’s inclusion in this exhibition underscored her ongoing exploration of historical memory, colonial legacies, and the politics of representation, which are recurring themes in her artistic practice. Her work, often engaging with the intersections of personal and collective history, resonated strongly with the exhibition’s investigation of identity as a contested and constructed narrative. The project incorporated an extensive mapping of significant artworks, artists, exhibitions, and institutions that have contributed to the discourse on Dutch identity, with Mister Motley dedicating a special publication to the initiative.
De Paviljoens, active from 1994 to 2013, was a leading institution for contemporary art in Almere, renowned for its innovative programming and stewardship of De Collectie Almere. The Dutch Identity? Half Sugar, Half Sand represented a pivotal moment in the museum’s history, offering a critical and nuanced perspective on the complexities of Dutch cultural identity.