Art Institute Melly invited Boris van Berkum and Marian Markelo in the context of the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Suriname, which was celebrated with Keti Koti on July 1, 2023. In collaboration with Markelo, Van Berkum created a showpiece that depicts the mother goddess Mama Aisa. Mama Aisa stands for love, compassion and inclusivity. With the work, which is central to this exhibition, we strive for more attention, understanding and connection with each other. As part of the 150th anniversary year, the Rotterdam Cultural Stories exhibition, entitled Mama Aisa, in honor of the Winti goddess Mama Aisa and the Winti culture.
Winti developed in Suriname. During the Dutch colonization, enslaved people brought West African beliefs and perspectives to Suriname, where their concepts formed the building blocks of Winti. To this day, Winti is practiced by people in Suriname and by the Afro-Surinamese diaspora. Winti is about being with others and taking time for that, both with people living and deceased ancestors. The Winti god of creation is Anana Keduaman Keduampon, who created all the Winti gods and goddesses to help people. Winti, which is also another word for these gods and goddesses, are often connected to the forces of nature: air, earth, water and the forest. The highest Winti is Mama Aisa (Mother Earth), also called Wanaisa or Maisa. Mama Aisa, the creator of life and death, is the goddess of flora and fauna; protector of art, medicine and trade.
In creating their work, Van Berkum and Markelo celebrate the power of connection, diversity and cultural exchange, and involve the public in the Winti faith and traditions. Central to this exhibition is the imagination of one of the most important Winti, Mama Aisa, Mother Earth. Marian Markelo herself served as the model for this, for whom Mama Aisa plays an important role in the culture and practice of Winti. Boris van Berkum incorporates West African art objects in his designs, which he and Markelo select from the collections of Dutch ethnographic museums. He makes 3D scans of the artworks and then assembles them into new designs. Before the West African artworks are scanned, Marian Markelo makes a libation to the ancestors, with which she invites the makers and to participate in the project. For Van Berkum and Markelo, the African ancestors are important collaboration partners.