Bloedsuiker:
Een bewogen geschiedenis - geschiedenis in beweging
Suriname - 2024
Bloedsuiker is an exploration of innovative strategies for diabetes prevention and reduction,
integrating community engagement and political and cultural advocacy, in particular within
Surinamese and Dutch-Surinamese communities.
Socio-historical and cultural narratives constitute a special focus in the project, for these too are important factors influencing a community’s health conditions.
From here the title Bloedsuiker: Een bewogen
geschiedenis, geschiedenis in beweging ("Blood Sugar: A turbulent history, history in motion").
The project facilitates community-up initiatives between the Netherlands and Suriname, in co-organization with Frank Kanhai and the Bas van de Goor Foundation.
Among these, an exhibition is hosted at
the National Archive Suriname.
The event reflects on the prices of sugar during slavery in Suriname in comparison with the
prices of sugar today: from the bloody trade of life, labor and sugar cane within the management of
the plantation system to the high and costly rates of diabetes (“suikerziekte”) that modern
healthcare tries to manage today. The exhibition includes pictures by photographer Waldo
Koendjbiharie, images from the archive, and migration documents from Frank Kanhai’s personal
archive.
The event received the support of the Fonds voor Cultuur Participatie.
Concept by Frank Kanhai
Photography by Waldo Koendjbiharie
Resources and production by Sam van Twisk
Graphic design by Erica Gargaglione
Curated and produced by Sugar House Studios and Bouadi Art Productions
Special thanks to Tjetan Lalbiharie