From Archives to Exhibition Scenography: Notes on Past Disquiet
From Archives to Exhibition Scenography: Notes on Past Disquiet is part of the public programme of the exhibition Past Disquiet (2025). The event focuses on the history and design of the exhibition, which has been traveling the world since its first edition in 2015. Curator Rasha Salti and exhibition designer Hatem Imam share its history, how it evolved over the years and how the scenography of this particular iteration at Framer Framed came to be. The talk is moderated by curator Amira Gad. Afterwards, the first activation of a screen-printing carousel by the exhibition’s graphic designer Farah Fayyad will take place in collaboration with Plaatsmaken. Bring your own T-Shirt to participate.
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Past Disquiet traces its research to four forgotten ‘museums in solidarity’: the International Art Exhibition for Palestine (Lebanon, 1978), the Museum of Latin American Art in Solidarity with Nicaragua, the International Museum of the Resistance Salvador Allende, and Art Contre/Against Apartheid. These initiatives were intended as acts of solidarity, supporting the liberation struggles of the Palestinian people, the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua, rejecting the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, and opposing the apartheid regime in South Africa. Despite their significant scale and impact, the presented collections have largely faded from historical memory – until now.
This iteration of Past Disquiet casts a special focus on the history of artistic solidarity within the Netherlands, and particularly in Amsterdam where many solidarity organisations were based. It explores how international movements from the ’60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, such as the anti-apartheid, anti-Vietnam War, and Chilean resistance efforts, were met with local activism. The exhibition celebrates the creativity and enduring influence of these movements.
Curators Khouri and Salti’s research journey followed threads from Beirut, Paris, Rome, Rabat, Baghdad, Tokyo, Venice, Santiago, Managua and Cape Town, back and forth. Their investigation uncovered thousands of intersecting stories of visionaries who organised exhibitions, intervened in public spaces, and created a particular form of museum as an embodiment of their causes. Through compelling archival materials – documents, photographs, pamphlets, press clippings, posters, interviews and videos – the exhibition brings this shared counter-history of art practice and political mobilisation to light.
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This event may be photographed and filmed. Kindly let us know in advance if you prefer not to have your picture taken.
Supported byMinistry of Education, Culture and Science; Amsterdam Fund for the Arts; Municipality of Amsterdam; VriendenLoterij Fonds; International Institute of Social History; Het Documentaire Paviljoen (IDFA); and Nieuwe Instituut.
The visit of Hatem Imam is made possible by the International Visitors Programme of the Nieuwe Instituut with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The silkscreen-printing workshop is facilitated and supported by the team from Plaatsmaken.
