FRESH FRIDAY | TEMPORARY MUSEUM

Images courtesy of New York Times.

A pop-up art exhibition in Amsterdam has taken up residence in a former prison and current center for asylum seekers. The 4,300 square foot exhibition space is dedicated to showcasing a diverse selection of migrant experiences in order to share different perspectives, but also to make newcomers of the center feel welcome. Many of the works are created by refugees who are previous or current residents of the center or familiar with this type of facility.

In an effort to bring the migrant and refugee crisis to the forefront, the Temporary Museum is creating a space in which each perspective becomes individual versus a candid news story. Director and Curator of the Temporary Museum, Nathalie Faber stated, "It's all about people, and when you talk to people it's so completely different. We have learned so much from doing it about how to just to talk to each other and work with each other". In a more intimate setting, the Temporary Museum aims to create conversation between the participants, but also the viewers. Many of the artists, including Ugandan refugee, Latif Mukasa, are giving tours of the installations, providing a detailed and personal account associated with the project. 

Through expression and discussion, the artists involved are experiencing an opportunity to begin healing. During a time when the lack of humanity has become just another news brief, an exhibition such as this one is more about the process than the result. Establishing a space that is both a haven and a creative organism has allowed conversation to flow and understanding to occur.