Last week-end was the opening of a very special exhibition in Amsterdam: The Dutch photographer Jan Banning granted a young gallery with a selection of his amazing work. Out of the 4 themes presented at the exhibition, I have selected the 2 that impressed me the most: National Identities and Comfort Women.
National Identities relates to the rising of xenophobia and especially islamophobia that is currently taking place in Europe. By giving immigrants the main role in classic paintings, Jan Banning is mixing cultural symbols and shows how they are actually building our European ‘national identifies. The Moroccan Vermeer is an extraordinary work.
Comfort Women is an overwhelming series dedicated to those Asian Women forced into prostitution during World War II by the Japanese army as well as those young girls who were abused outside and inside their homes. Most of the women who survived have kept both physical and emotional scarves for ever. Jan Banning shows these women to break the taboo and to let them recover the identity that was stolen to them.
The portraits are vibrant of life as the emotions are still so strong and close to us.
Paini, born in 1930
Emah, born in 1926
I can only recommend you to visit to the gallery Fontuna Fortuna, located in the heart of the Jordaan district in Amsterdam. Jan Banning is exposed until February 25 2012.
Of course, I’d love to read what you thought of the exhibition! Enjoy,
Galerie Fontana Fortuna – Keizersgracht 105 – 1015 CH Amsterdam – 020-7370597
Céline