Saudade
The EAC celebrated its 10th anniversary as an independent foundation in 2018 with an art exhibition. Ten artists from around the world each chose something from our collection as inspiration for an art piece. The final artworks were fitted together in the iconic travelling suitcase.
Saudade is a Portuguese word meaning profound longing for something or someone beloved and absent. Since the EAC collects letters, diaries, photographs, and other representations of expatriate life, these emotions are often represented in the EAC's collection. This project allowed the EAC to explore its collection from an artistic angle rather than the usual academic viewpoint. Ten artists, five resident in The Hague and five international, have each chosen something from the EAC's collection and used it as inspiration for an art piece. They have used various artistic media, from photography to sculpture to rubber stamps and fabric printing. To symbolise the inherently transient nature of expatriate life, all the art pieces were designed to fit together into the iconic EAC suitcase.
Saudade can be viewed as an exploration of the sometimes complicated ways expatriates navigate the emotional side of their travels, including many absent, beloved things like home, family, or even aspects of personal identity. The art pieces in the suitcase recall choices made, places and people left behind, but also friendships, experiences, and perspectives gained. The artists remind us that while our international paths may differ, they inevitably mark, change, and develop us in ways we never could have imagined had we stayed home.
Artists
The participating artists are Euf Lindeboom, Janne van Gilst, Masaaki Oyamada, Thomas Nondh Jansen, Natalie McIlroy, Carla Wright, Christopher Squier, Kevin Andrew Morris, Monique Prinsloo and Nico Angiuli. Please visit our anniversary website to learn more about the exhibition and the artists.
Interested in bringing the Saudade exhibition to your location?
The exhibition was on display across multiple locations. It first opened at the Twelve Twelve Gallery in The Hague in 2018. It then travelled to other cities and was showcased in Maastricht at the Boekenhandel Dominicanen, the Rotterdam City Archives and the Atrium The Hague. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in hosting this exhibition at your location.
Partners
Saudade was made possible by the generous support of Mondriaan Fonds, Stroom Den Haag and Twelve Twelve gallery. Special thanks to The Hague Royal Thai Embassy.