WILLEMSTAD – More than 100 works by Curaçaoan multidisciplinary artist David Paulus will go on display at Het Curaçaosch Museum in “Rumbo i Raís,” a new solo exhibition exploring the connection between Curaçao’s past, its cultural roots and the direction in which its society is moving.
The exhibition officially opens on Thursday, August 20, with a public opening evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free, with music provided by DJ Dorene Woodz.
“Rumbo i Raís,” meaning “Direction and Roots,” is built around the idea that a society is shaped not only by where it is heading, but also by where it comes from. Memories, history and the experiences passed down by previous generations continue to influence Curaçao’s identity and its future.
Across more than 100 artworks, Paulus brings together portraits, memories, expressions, materials and stories representing different generations and different parts of Curaçaoan society.
The people appearing in the exhibition include artists, writers, educators, cultural figures, politicians, activists, musicians, athletes and social workers, as well as members of Paulus’ own family.
Nearly every work is connected to a word, saying or expression. Some were heard by Paulus within his own family, while others come from Curaçao’s broader cultural memory and sayings originating from neighboring Aruba.
Reused materials also play an important role in the exhibition. Objects and materials that once served another purpose are given new life and meaning through Paulus’ artistic process. In this way, cultural memory is presented not as something static, but as something continuously reshaped, passed on and reinterpreted by successive generations.
A particularly significant element of “Rumbo i Raís” is its treatment of people who have died. Several of those portrayed are no longer alive, but the exhibition deliberately does not indicate when they passed away.
By doing so, the exhibition avoids drawing a strict boundary between those who are still physically present and those who came before. It reflects the belief held by many Curaçaoans that ancestors remain present through the influence, values and memories they leave behind.
That relationship with ancestry also forms part of Paulus’ creative process. The artist considers his ancestors to be present when he works, allowing past and present to coexist in his art and creating a space where generations can meet again.
Paulus lives and works in Doetinchem in the Netherlands, but his artistic practice remains deeply rooted in his Curaçaoan heritage and his experience as part of the diaspora.
Family histories, rituals, ancestry, identity and collective memory are recurring themes throughout his work. He was recently honored by the Government of Curaçao for his contribution to promoting Curaçaoan culture and identity abroad.
With “Rumbo i Raís,” Het Curaçaosch Museum is inviting visitors not simply to observe the works but to recognize people, memories and stories within them and consider how those stories connect with their own lives.
The exhibition also poses a broader question about Curaçao’s cultural inheritance: what does the present generation choose to remember, and what will it pass on to those who come next?
“Rumbo i Raís” is made possible with the support of Het Curaçaosch Museum and Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied. The opening takes place Thursday, August 20, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Het Curaçaosch Museum, with free admission.