Vesna Faassen & Lukas Verdijk

2018 INSTALLATION | HANDWRITTEN NOTES | HD VIDEO, SOUND, 17.42 MIN

Installation made in collaboration with Laura Nsengiyumva 

Installation view, Congolisation Festival #3, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Artist Laura Nsengiyumva invited Afro-Belgian readers to make handwritten notes in the book ‘Wanneer we spreken over kolonisatie’ / ‘Quand on parle de la colonisation’. During the Festival Congolisation #3 contributions by Gia Abrassart, Sibo Kanobana, Anne Wetsi Mpoma, Heleen Debeuckelaere & Olivier Mukuna were on view.

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Installation view, Congolisation Festival, Pianofabriek, Brussels | 2018

Thanks to Festival Congolisation & Skinfama.

During Live Book Clubs the readers were invited to continue their conversation. “This is the first book to be translated into Dutch in which Congolese historians – educated and active in their own country – address the theme of colonialism. An astonishing fact, given that the Congo has been independent for almost sixty years. The fact that it is the first characterises the almost complete lack of a Congolese voice of opposition in the colonial debate in Flanders.  And that makes Belgium unique among other former colonial powers. The artists Vesna Faassen and Lukas Verdijk are the initiators of this book project. Their aim was to develop a story of many voices on a theme linked to colonisation, decolonisation and post-colonisation. This was to be done by Congolese voices, speaking for themselves, but also making the Dutch language part of the debate. The duo intends their project to change the locus of control. This Live Book Club is a powerful example of how it can be done.” Text by Contour 9

Book club, Framer Framed, ‘A blueprint for Toads and Snakes (Sammy Baloji), curated by Vincent van Velsen. Amsterdam | 2018

Readers: Quinsy Gario and Heleen Debeuckelaere. 

Book club, ‘Wanneer we spreken over kolonisatie’, parallel to ‘Conversations between Kinshasa and Ostend’, Mu.ZEE, Ostend | 2018

Readers: Emmanuel Iyamu, Sandrine Ekofo, Seckou Ouologuem and Mohamed Barrie. 

Book club, ‘Wanneer we spreken over kolonisatie’, parallel to ‘Conversations between Kinshasa and Ostend’, Mu.ZEE, Ostend | 2018