”refuse_d”

Yesterday (Sunday), we visited the M HKA (Museum for Contemporary Art) in Antwerp. If you’ve read our blogs over the years, you know we try to take in some contemporary art wherever we go. There is often a lot we can learn about culture from these exhibitions, although sometimes they are…er…not so intriguing.

The M HKA had an exhibit called “refused_d” that so saddened and infuriated me it was overwhelming. I need a reminder, sometimes, not to be complacent. And reminded there are horrible things happening all over the world that I am powerless to do anything about. Except to gather knowledge. To know and to feel and to give it voice. Certainly not as poignantly as these artists but a voice nonetheless.

What is “refuse_d”? 

The resistance, persistence and the necessity of artistic expression. To continue despite censorship, displacement, and silenced voices. The choice of the word “refuse” makes this active rather than passive. It is not victimization, it is demonstration.

Originally created for Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar, then moved to Antwerp. Because of the Iran war, some pieces were stuck in transport but the Antwerp curators folded this into the exhibition.

I stood and cried in front of a wall of keys belonging to Palestinians. That is, photographs of key rings. Each photo had information about the owner of the keys. “These keys belong to x. She and her granddaughter were killed in the bombing of …” They were ordinary keys. Car key fobs, house keys. Keys you might have stuffed in your purse or back pocket. Keys you might have hung on a hook near your front door or thrown onto the top of a dresser.

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