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esjelie

zine , spiritualiteit , omgeving , natuur , Documentair , Diversiteit , Diaspora , Dekolonisatie , collage , Audiovisueel , Artistiek onderzoek , Archieven

esjelie (ashley bruinhart) is a surinamese-dutch visual artist and filmmaker from rotterdam with a background in portrait and fashion photography. her practice has since evolved into a more personal exploration of self, heritage, and ancestry, bringing archival imagery and personal feelings together through collage-making, poetry and reflective films. using nostalgia as a guide for research and a source of creative fuel, she explores the fragments of memory and identity that shape her understanding of herself, within her environments, and her roots. through her work, she often questions ideas of cultural identity, childhood experiences, and belonging as an Afropean. creative and introspective writing also plays an important role in her process, serving as a way to reflect, research, dream, and re-imagine pasts, presents, and futures.

Gran Tangi Mama Aisa, (zine)
Gran Tangi Mama Aisa, (zine) - Gran Tangi Mama Aisa is a zine, offering grace and gratitude to Mama Aisa and the ancestors, those whose spirits move through water, memory, and time. guided by the spiritual power of the ancestors and oceanic rituals, the work returns to the sea as a place of connection to those who were and are oceans removed. through moving images, sound, and spoken word, the piece honors the enduring presence and resilience of mothers and ancestors, and gestures toward the spiritual lineages that continue to hold us. It is an act of remembrance, return, and reverence: a tale carried by water, mothers, the ancestors, embodied knowledge and gratitude across generations.
heden, verleden, toekomst
heden, verleden, toekomst - Lessenreeks over het gevoel van nostalgie, waarin we samen reflecteren op verbindingen van het heden, het verleden en de toekomst. Samen voeren we gesprekken, denken we terug aan vroeger en aan wie/wat/waar we onszelf in de toekomst willen zien. In de laatste les van de workshop mag iedereen hun individuele tijdscapsule vullen en afronden met datgene dat voor hun belangerijk is.
and return to a place you've never been
and return to a place you've never been - "and return to a place you've never been" explores the experience of growing up Afropean, existing between cultures, never fully belonging to one, yet carrying both within you. inspired by Steve Biko’s writings on Black Consciousness, the zine reflects on how ideas of self-worth, identity, and belonging are shaped from childhood, and how the effects of colonialism can move across generations. through looking back at childhood, the works ask what we inherit, what we carry, and what we can choose to unlearn. It is an attempt to make peace with the in-between and to imagine a way of belonging that does not require choosing one side over the other
Gran Tangi Mama Aisa
Gran Tangi Mama Aisa - Gran Tangi Mama Aisa is a poetic video offering of grace and gratitude to Mama Aisa and the ancestors—those whose spirits move through water, memory, and time. guided by the spiritual power of the ancestors and oceanic rituals, the work returns to the sea as a place of connection to those who were and are oceans removed. through moving images, sound, and spoken word, the piece honors the enduring presence and resilience of mothers and ancestors, and gestures toward the spiritual lineages that continue to hold us. It is an act of remembrance, return, and reverence: a tale carried by water, mothers, the ancestors, embodied knowledge and gratitude across generations.
"de sterren wijzen de weg" - Een poëzieposter uit het voortdurende zoeken naar positionering in een wereld van vele lagen. Tussen geschiedenis, omgeving en dagelijkse ervaring vormt de verbinding met de voorouders een kompas. Hun stemmen dragen door als herinnering, als kracht, en als richting.
arki na granm'ma
arki na granm'ma - Arki Na Granm'ma is a multidisciplinary exploration of memory, identity, and inherited wisdom. told through the lens of a film, photography, archival footage, and immersive installation. by leaning into the emotional power of nostalgia and the guiding presence of my grandmother’s spirit, the work seeks to imagine the feeling of home and belonging within a country never physically visited, but spiritually and emotionally known. drawing on the intertwined forces of nature, family, childhood, and intuition; grandmother's garden aids like a garden of memory, where imagination becomes a form of preservation, and the unseen becomes tangible. the project reflects on ancestral connections, spiritual knowledge, and the quiet power of intergenerational collaboration. thr core being the garden—a recurring symbol of growth, care, and continuity—evoking the tenderness of childhood memories and the grounding influence of grandmotherly love. through this deeply personal and intuitive work, Arki Na Granma invites viewers to consider how identity can be shaped not only by place and other officialities, but by the emotional and spiritual legacies passed down through family, feeling, memory, and the land.
to be a kid
to be a kid - "to be a kid" is a personal zine that reflects on the experience of growing up black in a predominantly white environment through visual storytelling and personal narrative. It explores the quiet discomfort of feeling out of place, the impact of underrepresentation and the subtle ways one learns to adapt while also celebrating the resilience, joy and healing found in community and self-discovery.
tender loving care
tender loving care - tender loving care marks the beginning of a deeper exploration into themes of identity, intimacy, and self-representation. Initiated in early 2020, the project emerged from a desire to move beyond surface-level imagery and toward more emotionally resonant storytelling through photography. by documenting self-portraits accompanied with loved ones—people who offer comfort, acceptance, and familiarity—it investigates how personal relationships and environments can shape the photographic experience. These images aim to capture genuine interactions and subtle emotional exchanges, offering viewers a more nuanced understanding of connection and vulnerability.
ik leef
ik leef - "Ik leef" is an exploration of movement, curiosity, and the endless process of becoming. the poster reflects on travelling between places, people, nature, memory, and the unknown. It considers movement not only as physical travel, but as a way of relating — to the world, to others, to ancestry, and to the self. guided by curiosity and ancestral wisdom, the work embraces the freedom of continuously shifting one’s horizon.
becoming one with the environmemt
sensatory flora - becoming one with the environment is a visual research project that investigates the psychological and physiological effects of spending time in nature. Blending scientific studies with inherited knowledge from my grandmother, the work explores how natural environments impact the body, mind, and spirit. It brings together data and personal memory to reflect on nature’s quiet, restorative power—and expresses a deep sense of gratitude for the healing presence it continues to offer.
ik zie een paradijs
ik zie een paradijs - "ik zie een paradijs" is an early, introspective zine exploring heritage, memory, and imagined belonging through letters to Suriname—a place I had never visited but deeply romanticize. This speculative work reflects my growing curiosity about my origins and family history, serving as a foundational step that informed and led to the development of later projects such as Arki Na Granma and Gran Tangi Mama Aisa.
mirrors//windows
mirrors//windows - mirrors//windows explores identity as a fluid and evolving concept. across different stages of life, from childhood to young adulthood, I turn to collage making as a method of introspection and self-(re)discovery. by layering images, textures, and fragments, the work reflects the shifting nature of the self and the continual process of understanding and redefining identity.

heden, verleden, toekomst

Datum:
Locatie: SO De Piloot
In samenwerking met: Kenniscentrum Cultuuronderwijs Rotterdam

Lessenreeks over het gevoel van nostalgie, waarin we samen reflecteren op verbindingen van het heden, het verleden en de toekomst. Samen voeren we gesprekken, denken we terug aan vroeger en aan wie/wat/waar we onszelf in de toekomst willen zien. In de laatste les van de workshop mag iedereen hun individuele tijdscapsule vullen en afronden met datgene dat voor hun belangerijk is.

museumdocent & gids

Datum:
Locatie: Nederlands Fotomuseum

Your Foam Magazine - Tender Loving Care

Datum:
Locatie: Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam

museumdocent & tentoonstellingsmedewerker

Datum:
Locatie: wereldmuseum rotterdam

Graduation Show - Arki Na Granm'ma

Datum:
Locatie: Melkweg Expo

"A Collective Offering" - Arki Na Granm'ma (Listen to Grandma)

Datum:
In samenwerking met: A collective offering at BAR BARIO

Group exhibition with A Collective Offering and film screenings.

hostess

Datum:
Locatie: MaMa

educatie stagiair

Datum:
Locatie: fotografiemuseum amsterdam
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