The exhibition “Voices that Matter” highlights the perspectives of artists Juul Sadée, Antonie Frank Grahamsdaughter, and Dea Widya on colonial issues and the role of women. They investigate diverse themes, such as identity, memory, migration, and history, and explore different viewpoints. “Voices that Matter” serves as a call for greater awareness of colonialism and the pursuit of an inclusive and just society.

Artists from different generations and diverse backgrounds have developed new work for this exhibition. In it, they combine Indonesian, Swedish-Canadian, Dutch, and Moluccan perspectives. By blending these perspectives, the artists demonstrate that there is no single truth, but rather countless stories that contribute to an understanding of colonial issues. They express their findings in various disciplines, such as installations, film, and video.

Juul Sadée (Treebeek, NL, 1958) presents her latest work, “The Absent Present no 3”, from 2023. This is a multidisciplinary installation encompassing a mix of materials and historical meanings, including tropical hardwood, cotton, volcanic stone, black earthenware objects, and video. Sadée utilizes materials that reference the centuries-old textile trade between the Netherlands and Asia and the luxurious seventeenth-century canal houses. With “The Absent Present no 3”, Sadée explores the colonial footprint on the Banda Islands and emphasizes the cultural significance of the sacred places attributed to women.

Antonie Frank Grahamsdaughter (Toronto, CA, 1955) presents “Fragment of Paradise Moon,” a combination of videos, photographs, audio, and archival material. This new work focuses on Indigenous women, their connections to medicinal plants, and a woman’s right to decide over her own body. Through Grahamsdaughter’s personal story, in which she particularly emphasizes an event in the life of her Canadian Ojibwe grandmother, she highlights the impact of assimilation on families and the tragic suppression of cultural, linguistic, and religious aspects. Antonie Frank Grahamsdaughter lives and works in Sweden.

In her latest work, “The House before the House”, Dea Widya (Blora, ID, 1987) presents her research into decolonization in architecture. With this project, Widya sought the essence of the place, the “genius loci,” and explored how this essence manifests in local community traditions. Within this project, architecture functions as a carrier of stories. Architecture acts as a silent witness, preserving memories of the local population, history, myths, and spirituality. Widya shines a spotlight on the needs of women and highlights the influence of colonial and male norms on the built environment. She does this through performance, video, and maquettes.

Pleintheater Public Program! In the context of the exhibition Voices that Matter, there will be a program at the Pleintheater on December 2 from 2 PM to 6 PM featuring conversations and films by the three artists, among other things. Prior to this program, it is possible to view the exhibition at Bradwolff Projects starting at 12:00 PM. More information will follow.