Guest curator Tirzo Martha on the legacy of Charles Eyck
For the exhibition Rinella Alfonso & Charles Eyck: On the Other Side of the Ocean, guest curator Tirzo Martha places the work of Charles Eyck in a new context. He explores how artists are influenced by their surroundings and creates a dialogue between the past and the present.
Tirzo Martha: "I have great admiration for the work of Charles Eyck and his approach to what he created in Curaçao: he was someone who didn’t just ‘look’, but also ‘saw and became aware’. His work showcases recognizable, unique aspects of Curaçao in the early 1950s, going beyond merely depicting the surface. These aspects are still vivid on the island today but are often undervalued."
"The work has its own place in the Curaçaoan cultural landscape and in its art history. What is particularly important to me is that he didn’t arrive in a cultural vacuum where ‘culture’ was only just beginning. The island already had a rich artistic history, rooted in music, theater, dance, and literature, with visual artists already working on Curaçao. All of this happened from a local dynamic and necessity, not one that was solely modeled after Western examples and perceptions. Eyck entered that dynamic and created his own interpretations and representations within it. Without compromise, and that’s something I find beautiful."
Visit Rinella Alfonso & Charles Eyck: On the other side of the ocean at SCHUNCK.
Tirzo Martha door Pam van den Broek/Luidspreker
This activity is part of the Year of Heerlen's Heritage. In 2025, numerous activities and events will be organized in Heerlen to make its heritage visible or tangible once again.