A new exhibition about how the history of shipping is inextricably linked to colonial violence and the past of slavery.

And what impact this had – and continues to have – on people’s lives and communities. Contemporary art by Lisandro Suriel and Manuwi C Tokai and videos with personal stories let you look at the Dutch colonial past with different eyes.

No colonialism without ships
In the 17th century, the Atlantic Ocean was the highway of the world. Traders, fishermen, soldiers and settlers from Europe cross by ship. Also from the Netherlands. But the pursuit of profit has major consequences for people and nature in the Atlantic region. The exhibition Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean is about the impact of colonial history on human lives, then and now.

Museum collection and human stories
In Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean you will find objects from the museum collection. Such as paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and a two-meter long model of the ship D’Keulse Galy. Ships like these were used to abduct enslaved people from West Africa to the colonies in the Americas.

This ship model shows exactly what such a ship looked like, but does not tell about the experiences of the people on board. That is why the museum collection includes videos with stories about historical people and interviews with experts. This gives the objects from the collection a different meaning. Or maybe even more meaningful.

Contemporary art as reflection
The Maritime Museum is collaborating with various artists for this exhibition. Their works of art show how colonial history still continues today. In the exhibition you will see photos by Lisandro Suriel. With his images he investigates the shared African identity of the descendants of enslaved people. The artists Atong Atem, Manuwi C Tokai and Wouter Pocornie create new works especially for Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean.

Shadows on the Atlantic Ocean, from September 27, Maritime Museum, Kattenburgerplein 1