Beschrijving

This book complements the exhibition RESPECT! that was organized in Marrakech as part of the celebration of 400 years of relations between the Netherlands and Morocco. Respect! presents the work of fifteen artists from the Netherlands, in which the remarkable, tempestuous recent developments in Dutch society and politics have left their mark. From the viewpoint of an astonished outsider, with an almost anthropological gaze, the exhibition puts the multicultural society of the Netherlands under the magnifying glass via art. While cultural integration in daily life has not been without its problems, the new social constellation respresents an exceptionally fruitful subject for contemporary artists. Whereas citizens, the media, politicians, and policy-makers agonize over how to deal with the social commotion surrounding the multicultural society, contemporary artists develop productive scenarios. They unmask stereotypical images, explore the limits of proverbial Dutch tolerance, build bridges between different cultures, and develop new social structures and alternative models for society. This richly illustrated publication introduces the work of the participating artists and contains texts by curator Roel Arkesteijn, columnist Bas Heijne, and writer Abdelkader Benali, among others.