Boris van Berkum
Boris van Berkum (1968) is a Neo-artist. He fuses styles and forms of various periods, cultures and religions in his art. Van Berkum works in ceramic and bronze, epoxy-paste and even fondant icing. Van Berkum is currently working on a programme “Neo Afro,Winti 3D” where he assists Winti priestess Marian Markelo to revive and introduce mask-dancing and the use of sculpture in the Winti religion and ritual.
Twelve years ago, Winti priestess Marian Markelo and artist Boris van Berkum met. At the recommendation of her ancestor, Marian Markelo commissioned Boris van Berkum to develop and produce a new art collection in order to revive the African image tradition in Afro-Surinamese culture and to manifest Winti culture in the Netherlands. Kabra Blauw brings together two ancestor traditions in one showpiece: the Afro-Surinamese Kabra ancestor culture and the traditional Dutch Delft Blue.