‘Names in our Veins’: Two generations, one inherited history
Artworks by FX Harsono and Vincent Ruijters trace erased names, mass violence and ancestral memory across the Chinese-Indonesian diaspora.
Two generations of artists, FX Harsono and Vincent Ruijters, present an exhibition titled "Names in our Veins" at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands. The exhibition explores the Chinese-Indonesian diaspora's history, mass violence, and ancestral memory. The Malaysian-born curator Jo-Lene Ong brings together these two artists, each addressing different aspects of the shared experience.
FX Harsono, born in 1949 in Blitar, Indonesia, creates videos that confront state politics, erased Chinese names, and mass graves he witnessed during the Suharto regime. One such video is "Writing in the Rain" (2011), in which Harsono attempts to write his Chinese name on a glass plate repeatedly washed away by rain. This symbolic act represents the suppression of Chinese culture during that time.
In another work, "Rewriting on the Tomb", Harsono wipes away black paint from glass to reveal his name, demonstrating that his identity cannot be erased.
Vincent Ruijters, born in 1988 in The Hague, Netherlands, brings a double-diaspora perspective to the exhibition. While Harsono focuses on state politics and mass violence, Ruijters explores ancestral memory and discrimination. His work speaks to the complexities of identity and humanity within the Chinese-Indonesian diaspora. Together, these two artists delve into the human condition by confronting questions of authenticity and heritage within their shared history.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
