People’s Forum
An exhibition by Farida Sedoc
People’s Forum, Farida Sedoc’s first solo exhibition, explores the conditions for art as livelihood and as a vehicle for change. Sedoc starts from her own precarious experience as an artist to address new forms of collectivity. Amplifying past and current voices of diasporic and transnational communities, the exhibition reports on resistance and civil disobedience, and suggests tools for emancipation. The punk, reggae, and hip-hop aesthetics in her visual imagery contrast the visual language of mainstream media.
In People’s Forum, repurposing this visual research material echoes the spirit of the 80s and proposes alternative realities of the present. This not only forms the basis for addressing many urgent topics in the exhibition and in society today but also speaks about global power structures in relation to people’s social, cultural, and economic positions.
Next to a series of new works by Sedoc, People’s Forum will bring together a program offering alternative and accessible forms of artistic production and autonomy: an art market, how-to workshops, and an office-in-residence of Platform BK.
People’s Forum Art Market
Two freely accessible weekender markets, full of unexpected treasures, self-published magazines, vinyl records, clothing, art works and craft products, and wholesome homemade food and drinks by local artists, designers, and makers.
Art Market Weekender 1
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November 2023
12:00 – 18:00
Art Market Weekender 2
Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December 2023
12:00 – 18:00
How-to Workshop Programme
Every Friday, the weekly how-to workshop programme explores alternative modes of economic self-sufficiency within the arts field and beyond, in collaboration with various Amsterdam creators and experts. The workshops will be conducted in Dutch/English.
Find the workshop programme and sign ups here
MUBI Movie Night
As part of Farida Sedoc’s People’s Forum, MUBI will host a screening of an iconic Kung-fu flick, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, from Hong Kong—sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan countless times. Directed by Lau Kar-leung and produced by the Shaw Brothers.
Friday 15th of December, 19:00 – 22:00. Movie starts at 19:30.
Free entry. Reserve your ticket here!
Office-in-Residence
Platform BK offers insights into their work as an advocacy organisation for artists and cultural workers, aiming to mobilise independent art workers, encouraging self-organisation and solidarity for a better art climate.
People’s Forum is generously supported by Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Cultuurfonds, Mondriaan Fund, Pictoright, Gieskes-Strijbis Fund, and Oedipus Brewing.
ART MARKET
25-26 November
Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum
Hosselaer
Tree of Saba
People of ISO
Te Petchara
Dirt Don’t Hurt
Andrea Simal Nava
Azul Ehrenberg
Krokant
VinoVenerato
Yamlin
Bobo Nail Salon
Near Mint Haarlem
Creature Magazine
Manshee
Clayday
Nikolai Van Zeeland
18-c
The Gang Is Beautiful
Piet Langeveld
Robert Risteski
Rush Hour
Dirty Arts
POINTLESS ILLUSTRATIONS
Simon Lasowski
CHOCHOLACKOVA
And more
ART MARKET
2-3 December
Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum
Hosselaer
People of ISO
Human Fruit Machine
Het Ateljet
Roots to Fruits
Juiciety
Merceria Clara
Bootleg Sjaak
Carmen Schabracq
Iekeliene Stange
Las Primas
WZAR
Vita Buivid
Dulce733
Angel-Rose
Conki Records
Near Mint Haarlem
Rush Hour
De Kaasserie
Dirty Arts
Surfing in Kansas
CHOCHOLACKOVA
And more
opening hours
18 November – 17 December
Tue – Sun 12:00-18:00
W139 will close its doors on Wednesday 29 November in support of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and the global strike.
upcoming
Friday 8 Dec 12:00-16:00
Workshop 3: Mapping Your Art Practice
We will map different art practices, untangle ideas about time and money and outline alternative, sustainable(er) routes based on your skills, knowledge and (side) jobs. Gain more insight into each other’s practices and learn to trust your own journey.
A workshop by writer Zoë Dankert and Platform BK co-director Jeannette Slütter.
Friday 15 Dec 12:00-16:00
Workshop 4: How To Create A Sustainable Practice
A hands-on workshop on defining your ambitions and making them realistic by looking at your current situation. How to chart a path towards your dreamed future.
A workshop by artist and entrepreneur Matthijs Booij.
Friday 15 Dec 19:00- 22:00
MUBI Movie Night
A screening of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
As part of Farida Sedoc’s People’s Forum, MUBI will host a screening of an iconic Kung-fu flick from Hong Kong—sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan countless times. Directed by Lau Kar-leung and produced by the Shaw Brothers.
Free entry. Reserve your ticket here!
ongoing
Refresh Amsterdam #2
Susanne Khalil Yusef
(Germany, 1984)
Bidnan3eesh
بدنا نعيش (WE WANT TO LIVE), 2022
The neon artwork with the Arabic words بدنا نعيش (We want to live) was created by visual artist Susanne Khalil Yusef. The neon design is based on the handwritten words of Hamza, an artist friend of Khalil Yusef who lives in the Gaza Strip. “We want to live” is the desperate appeal that inspired her to produce this work of art. Under the Israeli occupation of Palestine, living conditions are poor and unsafe, often a lifelong reality for many inhabitants.
As a counterpart to this violence, Khalil Yusef creates seemingly cheerful installations in which she uses an abundance of color and diverse materials, from carpet, glass, and ceramics to video work. Behind her brightly hued works lurks a world of menace, displacement, and fear.