PIKIN SLEE

TITLe:Lespeki, collaboration with F.V.A.S Paramaribo en Totem Boti/Fiti a Wan, Pikin Slee
YEAR: 2015
LOCATION: Paramaribo, Pikin Slee, Suriname
DURATION: 1 maand
BUDGET: 9000 euro

Can craftsmanship create contact between cultures?
Can craft products strengthen the vulnerable traditional culture?
Surinamese society is mainly organized ethnically. It is a collection of different population groups who live together but do not know each other well. At the moment there is a perceptible movement towards a multi-ethnic identity.

From the association of visual artists in Paramaribo the FVAS, (Federation of Artists Suriname) the initiative came to contact a group of woodworkers, craftsmen, from Pikin Slee. A marron * village in the upper part of Suriname, where the museum of Saramakan culture is located. Collaboration would form a bridge in several ways. Between ethnic groups, between urban and forest culture and between 'high' culture and traditional culture.
The aim is to strengthen knowledge transfer and contact culture in a broad sense in Suriname. At the same time, re-evaluating the importance of traditional techniques can make the still living culture more resistant. The culture of the communities in the jungle of Suriname is experiencing increasing competition from urban culture. What is not practiced disappears.

The concept for the plan is mutual respect, 'lespeki' in Saramakan. How do we achieve a balanced exchange?
Getting to know each other is the first step. The artists of the FVAS work within the Western tradition. The people of Pikin Slee have their own tradition. We need to find the appropriate way of transfer between 'amateur' and professional. How can we get to know each other's perspectives. Both between FVAS and the people from Pikin Slee and between them and us.
The plan is to give each other workshops in each other's specific skills. Woodcarvers from Pikin Slee visit Paramaribo and give lectures about their work. Women from Pikin Slee give workshops about making traditional patchwork. Artists from Paramaribo share their knowledge with local craftsmen about making portraits. Together we will try to use the traditional techniques for products for the Saramaka museum's craft shop.

In Pikin Slee, the creative culture is concentrated around making gifts. Ritual objects are rough and virtually unprocessed. The gifts, utensils and clothing are made to impress the man or woman you admire. The gifts show your worth. The appreciation is expressed in relationships and prestige.
Making souvenirs is therefore difficult. How do you make something beautiful for someone you do not know and whose appreciation you can not fathom.
Our direct monetary valuation is not at all self-evident here. How many hours are invested in an embroidery or carvings is irrelevant for the price determination. How much money you need at that moment is more guiding. Working together is normal: you ask the person who can draw a pattern to do that for you. But task and revenue distribution in the production of bags does not work. Time is not money. Seed is nurtured for the next harvest. Laying money aside for the next purchase of fabric is too abstract. Money is still normless.

vist Readytex Galerie, Paramaribo

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drawing lessons Totem Boti

FOCUS: mutual teaching and learning.
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POSITION: organisor, co-author

PROCESS: participatief

IMPLEMENTATION:
- design in consultation
- implementation by local craftspeople
- sale in craftshop
- budget for souvenirs is pre-financed and later paid back from sale

RESULT:
- a lasting bond between Paramaribo and Pikinslee
- introduction of new techniques
- retaining traditional techniques
- Logo and folder for Fiti A wan,
- a point of sale for bags in Paramaribo
- an income for the local women

bakasei (vegetable garden), with rape, fan, peanut, fruit and pester and mortar

bag Dorsine

sculpting with teacher Jungry Udenhout

versieren van kalebassen

oogst van de moestuin

pangi hedendaags

pangi historisch

* Marrons zijn weggelopen tot slaaf gemaakten. Zij vluchtten langs de rivier het bos in en stichtten dorpen. Omdat zij in het bos niet alles konden vinden wat ze nodig hadden overvielen Marrons regelmatig de plantages. Pogingen de Marrons te verslaan waren vruchteloos. Tussen 1760 en 1775 sluiten de verschillende groepen Marrons een verdrag met de Hollandse plantagehouders.In ruil voor hun vrijheid en een jaarlijkse uitkering van gebruiksgoederen worden de plantages niet meer overvallen. Deze overeenkomst is een eeuw ouder dan de smansipasie: het officiele einde van de slavernij in 1863. Marron dorpen kennen dus een eeuwenlange eigen traditie. Pikin Slee is zo een oud dorp.

Saramacaans houtsnijwerk

BART STUART & KLAAR VAN DER LIPPE