Bigger is Better: Tropen Museum (Amsterdam)

For the first time in a long time I had to concede that bigger is sometimes better...the more intimate experiences afforded with smaller museums and galleries are usually non-existent with the bigger ones. I remember going to the Rijksmuseum was quite irritating due to the huge crowds it attracts however i was plesently surprised with the Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics to us English speaking folk).

The Tropen museum iss one of Europes leading ethnographic museums with an impressive and internationally acclaimed collections (both permanent and temporary) documents the history and heritage of many countries including Africa, Latin America, South East Asia and Oceania. Its highly interactive and utilizes film, artefacts, and photography.

Located next to Artis Zoo, the beautiful red-bricked building imposes itself upon you and is the first indication that its content is just as awe inspiring...

Advised to start with the 3rd floor and work my wat down to the "Red Exhibition"' and armed with a map i entered the world of the Carribean and Latin-America. I was plesantly surprised with sounds and models documenting the period of slavery and its impact on the people, their indegionas faiths and artifacts. There was also an interesting film titled "Roots"' that showed Dutch nationals of the aforementined region going back to their roots which was quite touching.

Moving on, it was the turn of South East Asia, India and New Guinea (with a section on the Netherlands East Indies). It was interesting to see how the influence of Bhuddism spread from India and its remaining influences. The temple altars  were beautiful with videos and audio for further explanation.

Then and most importantky was the Red Exhbition, which had a special booklet detailing each exhibit. The point of this exhibition was to explore the colour red and how people all around the worls use and view the colour red.

 

It is a powerful and emotive colur and we are presented with exhbits that show an array of emotions from joy, love, violience, to status, prohibition and martyrdom all shown through one colour. I loved juxtoposition of demons and devils with revered religious images of the Virgin Mary and the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (the grandson of Islams propeht Muhammed) all unified by the symbolic use of red.

A color means different things to different people in different contexts and your left pondering why is little red riding hoods coat red? what does ir mean? what effect does the color have on you?

An excellent exhibtion and a crying shame i forgot my camera but it runs out this week so you only have a few days left! However thanks to the thoughtfullness of the Tropenmuseum you can see the pictures on flicker !!!