Terramar Museum explores climate, water and resilience in new exhibition
KRALENDIJK — ‘Tene Pia Seku’ brings together documentary photography and international research with local contemporary art, historical perspective and community knowledge. The exhibition examines how rising sea levels, environmental disruption and social inequality are transforming the relationship between people, water and place.
The exhibition’s starting point is ‘Rising Tide’, featuring the work of internationally acclaimed photographer Kadir van Lohuizen, presented in collaboration with Het Scheepvaartmuseum. His visual storytelling and activist approach — which have inspired this project for years — are brought into dialogue with contributions from Bonairean artists. Ghislaine Monte and Nicole Peiliker give voice to the current generation and the concerns they feel about the impact of climate change on their culture. Kenny Ranking documents life along the island’s coast, while Marieke Knol helps us reflect on and process this story. This local element reflects the resilience of the island and its cultural, ecological and social landscape.
The exhibition is further enriched by the research and work ‘How to care for Bonaire’ by Prof. Dr. Simon Richter, complemented by the personal experiences of community leaders Norwin Willem, Anjelica Cicilia and Barbara Griot. Their stories are rooted in the research project Climate and Gender Equality, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and carried out by Climate Adaptation Services, Hogeschool Rotterdam and Terramar Museum. Their responses in the interviews offer valuable insights into the social dimension of climate change and the way environmental challenges intersect with issues of gender, need, heritage and community resilience.
Rather than focusing solely on the risks of climate change, ‘Tene Pia Seku’ places the emphasis on resilience, adaptation and personal agency. Through stories about water management — both historical and contemporary — environmental protection and community initiatives, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the vulnerability and strength of island communities.
‘Tene Pia Seku’ was created through a collaboration between Het Scheepvaartmuseum in the Netherlands, the Association of Museums and Heritage of Curaçao, Terramar Museum Bonaire, Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied and the Mondriaan Fund. The exhibition can be seen at two locations across the Caribbean.
From 8 August
The exhibition opens on 8 August at Terramar Museum on Bonaire and runs until 1 December. It will then be on view from 27 August to 23 November at the Habaai Art Gallery on Curaçao. Each location presents its own interpretation in keeping with the local context, while both contribute to a shared Caribbean dialogue on climate resilience. The opening on Bonaire on 8 August 2026 begins at 7:30 PM at Terramar Museum.
