Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten

Foam presents the first retrospective exhibition in the Netherlands dedicated to the work of Augusta Curiel (Suriname, 1873-1937). With her sister Anna (Suriname, 1875–1958) as her assistant, Curiel ran a successful photography studio in Paramaribo, establishing herself as one of Suriname’s most prominent photographers. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Curiel’s work, featuring over 100 images that offer a rich glimpse into Surinamese society in the early twentieth century. Augusta Curiel - Yere Mi Sten (translated from Sranan Tongo as Hear My Voice) highlights the multifaceted practice and distinctive role of Anna and Augusta Curiel in Surinamese society during the Dutch colonial period. The exhibition coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Suriname’s independence.

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Using a large plate camera on a wooden tripod, Augusta Curiel likely took thousands of photographs between 1904 and 1937, both in her Paramaribo studio and on location, with the assistance of her sister Anna. She frequently received commissions to document daily life in Suriname, from official events to religious missions, traveling across the country to photograph plantations and expeditions. Curiel's work is celebrated for her technical expertise and strong sense of composition. Her photographs were widely distributed in newspapers, magazines, postcards, souvenir albums and family collections in Suriname, the Caribbean, other former Dutch colonies, and the Netherlands. Her success was formally recognised in 1929 when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands granted her the prestigious title of Purveyor to the Royal Supplier, making her the first Surinamese photographer to receive this honour.

Of the thousands of photographs taken by Augusta and Anna Curiel, approximately 1,200 have been preserved. These images—mostly made on commission and for the souvenir market—helped shape the perception of Suriname as a prosperous colony but also bear traces of what was typically left out of the frame. While they were intended to depict a positive image, the photographs also show a country of stark contrasts, shaped by colonial rule, racial hierarchies and deep economic inequalities. Despite her significant contributions, Augusta Curiel remains an enigmatic and often overlooked figure in the history of photography. The exhibition Yere Mi Sten highlights how she has visualized the history of Suriname for a national and international audience—an extraordinary legacy.

The title Yere Mi Sten comes from the opening line of the poem Mi Dren by Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout (1910-1992), a prominent Surinamese poet and contemporary of Augusta Curiel. In Sranan Tongo, the title means Hear My Voice.

In 2022, Foam organised the exhibition Surinamese Wedding Portraits in collaboration with guest curator and independent researcher Lucia Nankoe. Her ongoing research into Augusta Curiel forms the basis for the upcoming exhibition Augusta Curiel - Yere Mi Sten. Lucia Nankoe developed the exhibition in collaboration with co-curator Jilke Golbach.

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