Djon Seedorf

artistic research - conceptual - Diaspora - diversity - education - painting - social - drawing

After a long career in education, I went to Suriname in 2017. I found an ''old'' inner voice there. Art has always been important, but now I knew how to make it a collective endeavor of reciprocity: I pick up what the inner voice says – make paintings – pass it on and get something in return for inspiration.
This is how I process dreams, memories, fantasies and imaginations. The sources are numerous: talking about it is not enough. You could sing or dance about it, I choose painting. My performances are meaningful links, like a chain, that set something in motion. They invite the viewer to give free rein to their imagination. I feel rich and grateful to notice that the essence of my work is also intuitively felt by the viewer.

  • Portfolio
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    • Walk on Bye

    Residencies / exchange

    • 23-09-2024 t/m 21-07-2025
    • In collaboration with: TENT - Rotterdam and Creative Alliance - Baltimore
    • Location: TENT - Rotterdam and Creative Alliance - Baltimore, Rotterdam and Baltimore
    • The Walk On By exhibition and artist exchange explore the African diaspora in two historic industrial port cities: Baltimore and Rotterdam. Because of the many layered and diverse stories that local artists can tell. The artists use various media techniques such as painting, digital art, performance, photography, animation, sculpture. Exhibitions take place in Rotterdam and Baltimore.
    • https://creativealliance.org

    "Shouldn't Have a Name"

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 13-04-2024 t/m 12-05-2024
    • In collaboration with: The Rotterdam Smart Lap Choir celebrates its twenty-five anniversary this year.
    • Location: Nivon, Rotterdam
    • The memory remains of that clown with his laugh. Djon Seedorf chooses a verse from this beautiful tearjerker that particularly appeals to him. Aren't we all a bit of a Clown sometimes? Sometimes having a moment of laughter or tears. That memory remains!

    IJ art collective art fair

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 29-03-2024 t/m 31-03-2024
    • In collaboration with: Studio Edwin van den Hoek
    • Location: KNSM island, Amsterdam
    • IJ Kunst Collectief has been organizing an art fair for a number of years with artists who are not represented by a specific gallery. This year I have also been invited to participate.
    • www.edwinvandenhoek.com

    Arti and Amicitiae

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 13-04-2024 t/m 12-05-2024
    • In collaboration with: Maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae
    • Location: Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam, Amsterdam
    • The Ballotage Assessment Committee of the artists' association Arti et Amicitiae invites the new members to participate in the New Members Exhibition UPDATE 2024 in its building on the Rokin - Amsterdam. A presentation of works by all artists who have been hired in the year 2023. Became an Arti artist member.
    • https://www.arti.nl

    chairman of the Foundation Draden van ons Slaveryverleden, The Hague - South Holland

    Other

    • 01-07-2023
    • As an artist I do not shirk social responsibilities. Although I want to guard my time, otherwise I will never come to the studio again, I thought it was an honor to be asked to chair the Foundation that will work to realize this project in the coming years. In the period 2024-2026, the Villa Maecenatis foundation will create a monumental, narrative tapestry in every province of the Netherlands.
    • https://villa-maecenatis.nl/draden-van-ons-nederlandse-slavernijverleden

    Opening at Niffo Gallery for the exhibition "The Pain of Slavery" by Andra Daans

    Reading

    • 01-06-2023
    • Location: Niffo Galerie & Recycle Studio/ Pretorialaan 4b, Rotterdam
    • 150 children's portraits, one for each year. When we think of enslaved people, we tend to think of adult people, but we forget that the enslaved population quickly began to sustain itself through natural reproduction. Enslaved children experienced their childhood within the atrocious slave system that existed within Suriname and many other places in the world.
    • www.niffo.nl

    As the Language of a vibrant country, Suriname.

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 01-06-2023 t/m 07-07-2023
    • In collaboration with: Stadsherstel Amsterdam
    • Location:, Amsterdam
    • In addition to the restoration and preservation of historic buildings in the Netherlands, Stadsherstel also works on the preservation of special buildings in Suriname. To draw attention to these activities, an exhibition was set up at the Stadsherstel location with artists with a connection with Suriname. In addition to Suriname in general, I also have a bond with the simple houses that our ancestors built, the so-called prasi oso. I spent my childhood there.
    • www.stadsherstel.nl/suriname

    Spring Salon

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 09-05-2023 t/m 14-05-2023
    • In collaboration with: Sanjay's Spring Salon Foundation
    • Location: Vrijpaleis Amsterdam, Amsterdam
    • Art & Culture Event. I was invited to participate in this exhibition. I have painted faces. Tronies. They are not happy faces. The faces look distorted and introverted. That's scary. That makes them human. Or both.
    • www.stichtingsanjay.nl

    REFLECTION

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 01-10-2022 t/m 07-11-2022
    • In collaboration with: Aart de Bruin
    • Location: Galerie Wijnstraat 178, Dordrecht
    • Exhibition Reflection. The exhibition is a reflection on a changed world. The works invite reflection from different points of view. In this way, the four artists indicate that a certain symbolism can be used as a means of communication in different times and cultures. Diana van Hal, Klaashenk Blonk, Djon Louis Seedorf and Anton Vrede
    • www.galeriewijnstraat.nl

    Artists depict slavery theme in De Waag

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 16-06-2023 t/m 09-07-2023
    • In collaboration with: The Haarlem Artists Association KZOD
    • Location: De Waag, Haarlem
    • July 1, 2023 will officially mark 160 years since slavery was abolished by the Dutch state. In Suriname, the formerly enslaved were forced to work on the plantations as indentured servants for another 10 years; there was no question of freedom. 13 artists are participating, 6 of whom are members of the Haarlem Artists' Association KZOD, 7 artists come from outside.
    • www.kzod.nl

    Delfshaven, your own environment

    Workshop

    • 16-01-2023 t/m 16-01-2023
    • In collaboration with: Maas Theater
    • Location: Maastheater, Delfshaven, Rotterdam
    • Maas Theater has given me the opportunity to give a painting workshop. The dance students did various art activities during a week. Theme: Delfshaven, their living environment. For the painting part, they were instructed to paint a close-up of their living environment.
    • www.maastd.nl

    Into the Wild

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 21-06-2021 t/m 27-06-2021
    • In collaboration with: In de Villa, De Hoorneboeg, Hilversum
    • Location: Hoorneboeg - Hilversum, Hilversum
    • In the Villa I showed twenty paintings on the theme "Into the Wild". In my search so far I have found ''acceptance'' and ''showing vulnerability''. They are important to me because it shows a touch of authenticity and humanity that everyone can relate to, regardless of my background. The journey to get there requires me to spend a lot of time looking ahead, getting to know myself on a deeper level.
    • www.dehoorneboeg.nl

    Summer Salon Royal

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 17-06-2021 t/m 20-08-2021
    • In collaboration with: CBK ZO
    • Location: CBK Zuidoost - Amsterdam, Amsterdam
    • Exhibition: Summer Salon Royaal! From June 17 to August 20, approximately seventy works will be on display, by both professional and enthusiastic amateur artists. The theme of the exhibition is 'Colorful'. Paintings, installations, collages and photos stand and hang in the space, waiting for the judgment of both a professional jury and the public, who vote for the best work. The ZomerSalon Royaal is the continuation of My Art, which was set up to
    • https://www.cbkzuidoost.nl/zomersalonroyaal

    Transgender

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 12-03-2019 t/m 30-03-2019
    • In collaboration with: Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
    • Location: Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam
    • The exhibition brings together works by artists who have made the great diversity of sexual orientation or gender identity a subject. Sometimes their work is activist, sometimes very personal and sometimes purely aesthetic. The exhibition is an initiative of the Jillis Bruggeman Foundation, made possible by the municipality of Schiedam. With work by Hans Withoos, Teun van Staveren, Erwin Olaf, Arjan Spannenburg, Bas Meerman, Djon Seedorf, Femmy Otten, among others
    • www.stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl

    Pleased To Meet You'

    Exhibition / presentation

    • 13-11-2021 t/m 12-12-2021
    • In collaboration with: none
    • Location: from the ''An Art Centre'' Foundation, Rotterdam-Charlois, Rotterdam
    • Pleased To Meet You… is the theme of An Art Center for this quarter. In this group exhibition with varied work such as paintings, (pen) drawings, digital photo frames and sculptures, a group of participants from An art center introduce themselves. Exhibitors: Olga Beumer, Harmke Bosma, Louise Bianchi, Antoinette Brandenburg, Mia van der Burg, Evelien de Jong, Pim van Halem, Vera Harmsen, Willem van Hest, Jolanda van Houten, Eva Krause, Astrid Moors, Lara Muradjan, Barbara Munsel, Rene Pasman, Jo
    • https://www.eenkunstcentrum.nl

    Acknowledgments

      Scholarship

    • PPO-WERKSCHUIT/ AMSTERDAM

    • 2018
      Collection

    • Pi-People Services BV

    • 2020, Naarden
      Publication

    • An artist's Life....Djon Seedorf

    • 2019
    • article
    • +597 Alakondre Magazine - Sammy Labbaci
      Publication

    • Spotted by Misja

    • 2021
    • article
    • Zin Magazine - Misja Beijers