ABOUT

Sustaining the Otherwise is a continuation of Amal Alhaag’s and Selene Wendt’s ongoing research and curatorial practices and builds upon their collaboration in 2022 on Practicing Freedom, a project that they conceptualized and curated upon the invitation of Goethe-Institut. Centered around similar topics, Practicing Freedom addressed "decoloniality and the afterlives of cultural heritage objects", by bringing together artists, activists and scholars who participated in workshops, artist activations, and a public conference and talk, which took place in London (at Goethe-Institut), Amsterdam (at the Tropenmuseum) and Lagos, Nigeria (at CCA, Lagos).

Sustaining the Otherwise is an opportunity to collectively rethink strategies and practicalities of restitution, to reclaim stories and histories, to reimagine what is possible, to resist and revolt against lingering colonial power structures in the present. We seek to collectively engage in the topic of restitution by focusing on artistic practices, everyday memory work and collaborative initiatives that are founded on the desire for radical transformation and a real commitment to creating change. 

Selene Wendt is an independent curator, researcher and writer based in Oslo. Her ongoing curatorial focus is on decoloniality and socially engaged art practices, with emphasis on interdisciplinary projects situated at the intersection between contemporary art, music, and literature. 

Amal Alhaag is an Amsterdam-based independent curator, educator and researcher who develops ongoing experimental and collaborative research practice, public programs, and projects on global spatial politics, archives, colonialism, counter-culture, oral histories, and popular culture.