Nash Caldera is a visual and performance artist from Curaçao, based in the Netherlands. Working with photography, video, installation, sound and performance, she explores and attempts to understand the multiplicity of her identity as a Queer Black Woman from Curaçao. She intends to create new narratives and new understanding of the notion of home by looking into the idea of nostalgia, and how our senses trigger memories that might let us experience the feeling of home even in other places. Spirituality, food, language and superstition are very present in Caldera’s practice, which gives her space to play around with different concepts of dimensions and time. She acquired an interest in rhythm and cadence through language, which she is now attempting to infuse into her work in combination with her obsession with food. Caldera strives to translate her feelings into experiences so others can be emotionally triggered.
Her work makes people FEEL
Polyglossia: Island of Babel - 2023, Performance, Collaboration DARKMATTER presented Ava + Gabriel: An Exegesis, a curated programme of experimental and transmedial artistic activities, based on de Rooy’s acclaimed film Ava & Gabriel: A Love Story. Forming part of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam's large-scale retrospective of Dutch-Curaçaoan artist Felix de Rooy, the Exegesis sought to break boundaries in much the same way as de Rooy's 1990 film.
For the second chapter, entitled Polyglossia: Island of Babel, visual and performance artist Najendra ‘Nash’ Caldera brought the experience of Curaçaoan polyglossia - i.e., the coexistence of multiple languages in one society, community or area - to three-dimensional and multi-medial life before an audience encouraged to stand or sit on the sidelines of the Teijin Auditorium. The piece not only ruminates on Curaçao's Tower of Babel-like linguistic plurality and code-switching which is vividly depicted throughout the film Ava & Gabriel, but it also underscores de Rooy's pointed use of the native language of Curaçao, Papiamentu, as a linguistic artefact of Black resistance to European domination.
Ekperimentando ku bida, maske bo pinta mi pretu. (Experimenting with life, even if you paint me black) - 2021, Performance/Video art.
Just like this video performance, as a queer living being we are all experimenting and discovering new abilities of ourselves everyday. Just like the sounds we are composed by a variety of things. At the same time others perceive us in their own way, but we are golden Bitch.
Untitled - 2020, Performance , Artist in residency at Uniarte, Curaçao
Oshé Otura Maybe - 2020
Performance
In colaboration with Lauri Faggioni and Umma Chroma, part of
G/D THYSELF: Spirit Strategy On Raising Free Black Children exhibition and IFFRIn the space at Het Nieuwe Intituut designed by
Lauri Faggioni with film screening of the Umma
Chroma collective. Me and a few other
performers perform a preview of our work at the
opening of the space.
I lit up 6 candles. The original performance
starts with me covering my wrist with plaster
bandages, while putting everyone in a calming
setting. Following I add some powder charcoal
to my wrist and hand covering the white
plaster. Burn some sage to cleanse the space.
Whit my hand covered in black charcoal I
grabbed a huge block of ice shaped in the form
of handcuffs, I carried this above the burning
candles while the ice was melting and I was
resisting the cold and the wight of the ice.
The audience was allowed to take the ice from
me and carry it until they cannot take it
anymore than pass it back to me. I’ve carried
the ice for about 45 min.
Mansa - 2019, Performance, Framer Framed Werkplaats Molenwijk.
In Papiamentu the word “mansa” have two meaning, Knead together and to tame. By dissecting this
word and use one meaning to represent the other I decided to create this performance where mixing
flower and water to create a bread dough as the human, the body, flash that is being shaped and
kinda tamed by society. I’ve mixed this with blood after. The blood as a symbol of energy
transferring/cleansing element. After I share the dough to the audience, then they got the chance
to stick this heavy dough on my body.
Molenwijk is a neighbourhood that consist of people from different cultural background, and the
aim of the exhibition according to the curators was to bring people together. In reaction to that
I’ve created this performance because I had these questions: Does these people feel comfortable
living in this dutch system that try to shape us in all types of way? or are they just trying to
fit in?
Até a Lòs – Kuaresma - 2018, Video Collage
Adorá Yemayá Tapá (sinkretismo) – Kuaresma - 2018, Video Collage
Mandá, Mará – Kuaresma - 2018, Digital Photo Collage
Djarason di shinishi (Ash ‘ashy’ Wednesday) -Kuaresma - 2018, Short Film, Video Collage
Holy vs. Divine - 2018, Digital Photo Collage
