Spells against othering: Closing performances by Neo Muyanga at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen on 3 and 4 June 2023

Neo Muyanga's dynamic workshop has been on the fourth floor of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen for two months, where he has rehearsed with a Rotterdam-based choir led by conductor Amare Bilate. During his stay, Muyanga explored Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's collection, the city, and the different stories within both. Muyanga's compositions are based on shared narratives around humanity and themes of exclusion, othering, and the African diaspora. The composer's work is centred around people and is inspired by improvisation, a process that helped create Do they work? Spells against othering.

anti_dog collection by Alicia Framis

While exploring the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen collection, Muyanga discovered anti_dog (2002), a series created by Spanish artist Alicia Framis after hearing about dogs attacking women of colour. The 'fashion line' consists of nine golden dresses made of twaron, a dog-, bullet-, cut- and fire-resistant fabric. Muyanga was immediately attracted to Framis' work, recognising the stories of racial prejudices from his own homeland.

Listen to a conversation between Muyanga and Framis in between performances on both Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June, when the anti_dog dresses will be shown and worn during the closing weekend of Neo Muyanga's residency at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Le Miroir Vivant and Ammodo

Le Miroir Vivant is Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen's new international guest programme. The Depot is a lively building with work-in-progress as its common thread, be it storing, conserving or researching art. The programme Le Miroir Vivant was developed from this philosophy and is made possible by Ammodo, a platform providing space and support for the development of art, architecture and science. Le Miroir Vivant will continue to take shape in the Depot between 2023 and 2025.

Neo Muyanga

Composer, musician, artist and philosopher Neo Muyanga grew up in Soweto, South Africa. While a physics student in the 1990s, he discovered classical music, and has since worked in many fields with international recognition. In 2021 he created the opera How ANANSI freed the stories of the world at the Dutch National Opera & Ballet.