Local Heroes 2023

Five artists, all working in Amsterdam Southeast, present their work at CBK Zuidoost. A diversity of disciplines, techniques, and themes, with a strong focus on identity and personal history as a common thread. [photo: detail from MAKANDRA by Rossel Chaslie]

The art scene in the Bijlmer is changing. More and more artists are finding their way to this part of the city. This number will continue to grow in the coming years, partly due to the increasing number of housing projects in our neighborhood. Old office buildings must make way for these developments. Before these buildings are demolished, they are temporarily vacant.

It is precisely in these temporary spaces that new opportunities for artists arise, allowing the cultural ecosystem to continue expanding. With the exhibition series Local Heroes, CBK Zuidoost stimulates the local art climate in Amsterdam Southeast.

Rossel Chaslie is a self-taught visual artist who focuses on illustration, 2D animation, and visual storytelling. His migration from Suriname to the Netherlands has influenced his visual language; in his work, he showcases his roots. By leaving Suriname, he learned more about its history and is able to look at it more critically from a distance. In his work, Chaslie addresses themes such as Black history, racism, and the diaspora. He also has a passion for science fiction and enjoys bending reality. He believes in sustainable activism and primarily wants to create work that establishes a legacy that will still be meaningful fifteen years from now.

Maikel Deekman graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in 2021. In his work, worlds collide: those of his ancestors and his current life. He combines Maroon culture with Dutch modernism. Furthermore, he juxtaposes different techniques: craft and handiwork versus contemporary, high-end technologies: technology versus tradition. These cross-pollinations result in colorful and substantively relevant works that are very positive and idealistic! In his work, Deekman shows respect for art, people, and culture.

Janne Igbuwe is a visual artist, teacher, and creative entrepreneur from Amsterdam. She draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources and archives, expressing herself primarily through photography, drawings, paintings, or a combination of these media. Her research in her artistic practice focuses on themes such as culture, identity, and “color”—themes she presents in both a poetic and socially engaged manner.

Yazan Maksoud obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Damascus in 2013. His art practice is primarily focused on sculpture and design. Maksoud believes that art has a major impact on society and can be a catalyst for change. Based on this ideology, Maksoud has developed a visual language with which he explores the integration of multiple senses in mass and form. Fascinated by the phenomenon of patriarchy and triggered by its effect on our society, his mission is to challenge stereotypical images of women, aiming for a harmonious society.

Roosje Verschoor is a visual artist. She explores hidden stories and reflects on her discoveries using various media. She graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam in 2016, in the Photography department. She is deeply fascinated by hidden stories and connections from history that define our identity. Questions she asks include, “What makes us who we are?” and “What unconscious ideas do we carry with us?” She researches these topics and incorporates the results into her photos and videos. Verschoor studies literature and sources, interviews people, and travels to arrive at an image that uses both reality and fiction.

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