What Knots Knot Knots
In Conversation: the colonial history of the Northern Netherlands
How does the colonial history of the Northern Netherlands shape the stories we tell today, and who gets to tell them? What Knots Knot Knots is an art project that has unfolded across Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland to examine how the colonial past of the Northern Netherlands continues to shape life today. Eight artists embarked on research residencies in the region, diving into local archives, community histories, and landscapes to create new work that brings hidden pasts into the present.
Ofri Cnaani, Faisel Saro, iPhone photo, 2026
At Noorderzon, the project comes together for a special in-conversation with Roosje Klap, director of Noorderlicht, and Faisel Saro, Groningen-based visual artist. Over the summer, Faisel has been working on a mural at Noorderlicht Gallery, bringing together all the works of the artists involved.
During the event Roosje Klap will introduce What Knots Knot Knots and discuss the eight artists and their work, which engages with migration, colonial archives, and ecology. Faisel will then talk about his own process: the research, the making, and the mural, weaving together stories that emerged across the project. He'll also look ahead to the finissage on August 30th, where his mural can be seen and the project closes with a publication.
What Knots Knot Knots is an initiative of Noorderlicht in collaboration with partners in Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland. The work can be viewed until August 30 across the three regions.
The talk is in Dutch.