A conversation with 
Bik Van der Pol, Mariana Françozo and Merijn de Waal
Sunday 28 January 2024, 12 - 2 pm

Following an article written in NRC by journalist Merijn de Waal on the restitution of two Ecuadorian spears in Natura Docet museum in Denekamp, The Netherlands, Bik Van der Pol invite anthropologist Mariana Françozo and Merijn de Waal in conversation on loss of objects and what such a loss might mean for a shared understanding of collective histories and stories.

MARIANA FRANÇOZO is an anthropologist and a historian and works as associate professor of museum studies at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University. Her research focuses on Indigenous Brazilian objects in European collections from the early cabinets of curiosities until present-day collaborative projects. She teaches and supervises students on topics in critical museology, museum and collection history, and collection-based research.

MERIJN DE WAAL has worked at NRC since 2006. Covered the euro crisis in Southern Europe as a correspondent in Madrid (2009-'14) and followed the US presidential races of 2008 and 2020 as an editor. Reported on the drug war in Latin America and traveled extensively along the US-Mexico border.

In our final cycle of SEQUINS, Shimmer invites artist duo Bik Van der Pol to transform Shimmer into a site of inquiry through the rhythms of remembering. Bik Van der Pol’s artworks act as a conduit and connector to other practices, politics, and generations, moving the audience to revisit forgotten moments and memories from their works. For the exhibition the artists’ have made three new works springing from their 1996 work The Bookshop Piece presented at Boijmans van Beuningen, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Thank you to Stokroos Foundation, CBK Rotterdam, Mondriaan Fonds, and Gemeente Rotterdam for their support of this exhibition.