Info
The artworks by the Congolese Workers Art League (CATPC) convey the pain and evil of colonialism. At the same time, they are objects of hope and restoration. The sculptures on display at Oerol are Racines (Irène Kanga / CATPC, 2023) and Crucifixion du Bailleur (Matthieu Kasiama & Ced’art Tamasala / CATPC, 2023).
Racines (Roots) shows the harshness of plantation work, both for the laborers and the plants and trees they cultivate. Roots become a metaphor for the connection between the art world and the plantations; roots that CATPC wants to bring from underground to the surface, but also wants to heal. Crucifixion du Bailleur (Crucifixion of the Art Collector) tells the story of an art collector who decides to be crucified to absolve himself of his sins – imposing monoculture agriculture and destroying the land. After his death, he rises again together with the post-plantation, the sacred forest where monoculture agriculture is replaced by biodiversity.
This year, CATPC represents the Netherlands at the international art festival, the Venice Biennale. Two members of CATPC, Mbuku Kimpala and Jean Kawata, are at Oerol to explain their work. CATPC – fully ‘Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise’ or ‘Congolese Plantation Workers Art Collective’ – is an art cooperative of plantation workers from Lusanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization was founded in collaboration with renowned environmental activist René Ngongo in 2014. With the proceeds from their art, CATPC aims to secure hundreds of hectares of former plantation land for future generations. In the middle of this land, they have built a museum: the White Cube.
This Expedition can be visited daily from June 8th between 11:00 and 17:00.
Accessibility info
The access route from the bicycle parking is 100 meters of woodland path. There are no seating accommodations.