In the new BNNVARA program, presenter Eric Dykstra investigates the origin of works of art that ended up in Western countries under suspicious circumstances. in every episode of plundered art It focuses on a piece of art that is currently in a European museum.
In the first episode, Dijkstra travels to Indonesia and delves into the story of the Banjarmasin diamond. Dutch forces took the precious stone with them as spoils of war in 1859, after they occupied the city by force. The diamond is now part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum.
In Indonesia, Dijkstra talks with potential heirs to the original owners. He also asks why Holland doesn’t return the diamonds. “plundered art It’s not just about bringing back art, but also about the rambunctious way we deal with our colonial past. This makes this series more urgent than ever,” says Dykstra.
Another object in the series is the feather crown of the Aztec leader Moctezuma of Mexico, which is currently on display in Vienna. The program also features a life-size iron statue of God Gu from Benin. This object is now on display in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
plundered art It can be seen every Friday at 22:20 on NPO2 from May 26th.
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