2025-08-27 |   Razia Barsatie: in a duo exhibition at the former American Embassy in The Hague

Our fellow Razia Barsatie, together with Saronji Lewis, is having a duo exhibition, Labyrinth Within, at the former American Embassy, Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague. 

Labyrinth Within is a site-specific installation by Razia Barsatie and Sarojini Lewis, in which they weave their memories of Hindustani-Surinamese culture with themes such as migration, intergenerational silence, and female identity. The exhibition invites visitors into the artists’ personal labyrinth, shaped by shared heritage, histories of migration, and taboos surrounding gender, sexuality, and ancestry.

Their collaboration is rooted in a shared cultural background and a common desire to break the silences within their communities through art. By intertwining their experiences, they create a powerful presentation that reflects on their childhoods: Lewis from a non-traditional Hindustani-Surinamese perspective, and Barsatie from her Hindustani-Surinamese background in Suriname. In the former offices of the American Embassy, they present video works, archival photographs, sculptures, and texts.

The exhibition’s title refers to the inner maze that emerges when cultural codes, upbringing, spirituality, and family history intermingle. Their work links personal stories to universal questions: What does it mean to grow up between two cultures as a descendant of contract labourers? How do women shape their voices within patriarchal structures? And how can we break the taboos of family secrets?

At the heart of the exhibition is the installation Ogri Eye, in which the evil eye — a spiritual symbol from Hindustani-Surinamese culture — serves as a metaphor for hidden memories, fears, and the longing for protection. The artworks reference domestic objects, Surinamese bus stops, and abandoned plantations, which function as carriers of collective memory.

In addition to the spatial installations, Sarojini Lewis presents a performance on the opening night, creating a direct link between art and audience. By activating the power of presence, she makes collective memory tangible.

Join us for the opening on 06.09.2025, from 19:00.

You can see the exhibition until 7 December.