Participant, workshop on monuments, mentored by Tracy Mackenna & Edwin Janssen, TENT Gallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

As part of a course on curating and exhibition-making within the Master ARTS program at the University of Lille, selected students participated in Monumental Task, a one-day workshop where they were invited to engage and play with the words “monument” and “memorial.” The goal was to develop these explorations into a concrete exhibition plan.

Amanda and her group focused on the concept of "people authority". They began by deconstructing the terms “monument” and “memorial,” which are often linked to dominant narratives created by figures in power. Their approach raised the critical question: Who is writing the story? As a result, their exhibition proposal reimagined authority as something that resides with the people (or citizens)–decentralising and challenging traditional power dynamics rather than remaining with the concept of monument and memorial based on the hands of a powerful few.

This workshop is part of Erasmus de Clown by Tracy Mackenna and Edwin Janssen.

About Tracy Mackenna & Edwin Janssen

The artists Tracy Mackenna & Edwin Janssen have been collaborating since 1997, focusing on themes such as cultural identity, concepts of place, and the intersection of art and life. They have a history of producing exhibition projects that often take the museum as a starting point, creating or reinterpreting museum-like experiences. They co-curate The Museum of Loss and Renewal, an initiative that explores the value and significance of objects, life and death, and artist-led curatorial practices. Visit Tracy’s and Edwin’s pages to learn more about them.

About TENT

TENT is an art platform and production house located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, dedicated to showcasing and supporting the work of both emerging and established artists. They are known for hosting contemporary art exhibitions that engage with current social and cultural issues. TENT serves as a hub for exhibitions, new productions, educational projects, performances, and events that engage with current developments in contemporary art. ​Through its diverse initiatives, TENT aims to connect artists, audiences, and the city, fostering a space where contemporary art can thrive and contribute to the broader cultural discourse.​ Visit their page to learn more tentrotterdam.nl.