Since he was a teenager, Dion Rosina (1991) has been interested in his family history; his father was born and raised in Aruba, and his grandfather and ancestors in Curaçao. For this artwork, Rosina painted a typical Curaçao country house, known for its distinct architecture and bright colors. Behind that colorful facade, however, lies a past that Rosina refers to with a gray mirror image.
'The image is somewhat blurred because this painful history is rarely discussed. Enslaved people were put to work on the plantations surrounding these houses, under miserable conditions. This strongly contrasts with the beauty of the country house, which I find interesting and important to bring attention to. That’s why I paired the estate with its mirror image. It is very figurative, so it communicates more directly than my other work.’
Rosina draws inspiration from history and spirituality. For him, the blue and purple tones in this oil painting symbolize the mystical and spiritual, which are important elements of Caribbean culture.
Rosina hopes viewers enjoy the aesthetics but also look beyond them. 'It would be nice if they also see the deeper layer in this work and learn something about Dutch history.'
Dion Rosina was born in Heemskerk and studied at the Breitner Academy. His work has previously been shown at Kunsthal Rotterdam and the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.