26 Jul - 10 Nov 2024

Faces of North Holland

Untold Stories from Aalsmeer to Texel

26 Jul - 10 Nov 2024

On display now

Historically, portraits could only be afforded by the wealthiest members of society. A painted, drawn, or sculpted portrait was costly. The vast majority of people never sat for a portrait, and they are not found in our museum collections, either.

In order for portraits from the 21st century to present an accurate reflection of our time, we need new faces. It will ensure that everyone is able to recognize themselves in the stories and faces shown in the museum. Together with the Frans Hals Museum we went into the province to co-create and to make and collect new portaits. The Faces of North Holland exhibition shows the untold stories from Aalsmeer to Texel.

Tip: Join the embroidery workshop on September 29th! Corrina van Wijk, a participant of Verborgen Verhalen uit Velsen - part of the exhibition Faces of North-Holland - will get you started on embroidery along with several other experienced embroiderers. More information and registration

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Museum of Humanity, Gezichten van Zaandam.

Co-creation

Historical portraits, including group portraits, served as a source of inspiration for the artists, residents, and organizations who participated in the project. Co-creation—meaning equal cooperation—among all partners was key in this project to jointly produce new portraits that would contribute to a more complete picture of society.

The outcome of these co-creation processes, including the portrait competition in which more than a thousand people participated, is now on view here. From April 3 to August 17, 2025, it will be shown at the Frans Hals Museum.

Partners

Museum Kaap Skil, Texel
Kunst en Cultuurcentrum Fluxus, Zaandam
Stichting Kunst en Cultuur en de Kunstploeg, Aalsmeer
Centrum voor de Kunsten, Beverwijk
Stadsreporters, IJmond
Stichting Work Heart Make Art, Alkmaar & Hoorn
Jeugdcentrum Flinty’s, Haarlem

Stratenmakers Audiocollectief

Stratenmakers Audiocollectief (Street Makers Audio Collective) is a multidisciplinary and eclectic collective of makers. With microphone in hand, the Stratenmakers record the world through little anecdotes and larger narratives. Yet they seldom do this from the peace and quiet of a studio, instead going out into the bustling streets of their home bases in Amsterdam Zuidoost and Amsterdam West.

During their search for diverse communities in the province, they collected extraordinary stories about historic dike villages, a creative family in Monnickendam and agricultural entrepreneurs. Their travels and visits resulted in unique stories summarised in three multidisciplinary portraits.

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Verborgen Verhalen (Hidden Stories)

Worldwide, more people than ever are fleeing war, conflict, or persecution. In many large cities in Western Europe, the majority of inhabitants have a migratory background. Meanwhile, an increasing number of people live in social bubbles, where contact with others beyond their own circle remains limited at times.

Through the project Verborgen Verhalen (Hidden Stories), Mirna Ligthart created a place that would promote interaction, especially between persons who come from a migratory background and those who do not. Dutch women belonging to one of these categories shared their stories. Meeting every Monday morning in IJmuiden for a period of six months, they wrote autobiographically and embroidered as a group under the guidance of writer Susanne Gijsbers and artists Corrina van Wijk and Lisa Konno.

Each woman wrote a personal fairy tale based on a pivotal moment in her life. They then embroidered elements from their fairy tales on a ruff, or traditional collar. In contrast with the millstone collars seen in the regents group portrait in the first room, the women used a flat, 17th-century-style collar trimmed with lace. The collars are now canvases for the women’s personal narratives.

On September 29th from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm we are organising a free embroidery workshop!

More information and registration