Commissioned by
Verwey Museum Haarlem

Artists
Jeanne Aubert – Fabio Barile – Sjoerd Buisman – Lisa van Casand – Douglas Mandry – Jacobien de Rooij –
Tanja Smeets and Teylers Museum Haarlem

Curator
Kim Knoppers

Date
May 3 – September 29, 2024

Essay
Essay_TheSecretofDeepTime_KimKnoppers

The Secret of Deep Time is about the depiction of geology and deep time by contemporary artists and what it may mean for our future. The old ninth-century tree stump from the museum’s collection, on display in the historical exhibition Allemaal Haarlemmers, serves as the starting point for The Secret of Deep Time. This tree stump is a silent witness to the past, the deep time of peat bogs, sand barriers and vast woodlands, a period that lasted far longer than the time Haarlem has existed. The visualisation of deep time is shown here in various ways, with photography, drawings, installations, video, textiles and naturalia. In doing so, the participating artists show the immensity of deep time. Their work invites us to look differently at natural phenomena that span millennia such as the formation of glaciers, rocks, fossils and minerals. By appreciating this deep time, we can look beyond our own lives in the here and now. Inspired by this, we can strive to leave a better legacy for future generations.

Following D(R)AAD. On embroidery as protest and healing, the second exhibition in the series
Let Go and Cherish, which explores how contemporary art can contribute to a new experience of cultural heritage.
Using contemporary issues and current themes, the series reflects on objects, stories and themes from the historical exhibition
Allemaal Haarlemmers – about 1000 years of city history, and casts an alternative and broader view, beyond the borders of Haarlem and its immediate surroundings.