Paramaribo SPAN An unusual exhibition of contemporary visual art

Fatu Bangie - Roberto Tjon A Meeuw

Paramaribo SPAN. An exciting name for an exciting exhibition. On the occasion of its 145th anniversary, De Surinaamsche Bank N.V. offers its former directors residence, situated in the backyard of its head office in Paramaribo, Suriname, as a platform for young artists (19 from Suriname and 10 from the Netherlands). From February 27th to March 14th the public can view art here in an entirely different manner: a horizon broadening experience!

The idea of this exhibition arose when in Rotterdam and Paramaribo thought was given to a good closure of the ArtRoPa project, a cultural exchange program of the Center for Visual Art Rotterdam (CBK) whereby artists from Rotterdam worked for a period of time in Suriname and artists from Paramaribo in turn worked for a few weeks in Rotterdam.

De Surinaamsche Bank which commemorates its 145th anniversary this year joined the initiative. KIT Publishers (Amsterdam) expressed its willingness to publish a beautiful book along with this exhibition.

It is the first time in Suriname that an exhibition can be seen with so much artistic freedom. There is latitude for the visual artists – literally and metaphorically spoken. That's why many of the artists have produced work which is blazing new trails and exploring new grounds. In short: no familiar two-dimensional art work as we are accustomed to, but a bubbling, energetic, dynamic entity of expression.

Thomas Meijer zu Schlochtern of the Center for Visual Art Rotterdam invited the Trinidadian artist Christopher Cozier to act as the curator for the exhibition. Cozier is responsible for the selection of the Surinamese artists. Thomas Meijer zu Schlochtern made a selection from the work which the Rotterdam participants in the ArtRoPa project produced as a result of their stay in Suriname.

Paramaribo SPAN is more than an exhibition. There is a book, a blog, and an extensive program of sideline activities such as lively conversations, special bus tours for art lovers, and an Art in the City evening. Paramaribo SPAN: a cultural event which is both unique and opening-up new horizons.

Apart from the exhibition there is an interesting side program including four Art Conversations. The first one takes place the day after the opening and is called:
An Afternoon in the Garden. This Conversation will be attended by some internationally leading art specialists, among whom are Annie Paul from Jamaica, Courtney Martin from Los Angeles, Leon Wainwright from Groot-Brittain, Richard Rawlins from Trinidad & Tobago, and Julieta Gonzales from Puerto Rico.

Along with the exhibition is publication is issued in which Surinamese artists, writers, and international curators and producers of exhibitions speak about the recent developments in the visual art sector of Suriname and about the bubbling cultural climate in Paramaribo.

With the project is a blog: http://paramaribospan.blogspot.com/. The blog, managed by Nicholas Laughlin from Trinidad & Tobago, offers insight in the context of the Paramaribo SPAN project. There is also a Paramaribo SPAN Facebook Group which is open to those who are interested.