The art installation Crimson Gilt, created by visual artist Vincent Ruijters, is on show now.
Drawing on his personal connections with the Netherlands, Indonesia and Japan, visual artist Vincent Ruijters created an art installation based on a replica of the the East Indiaman Amsterdam. Through this work, he explores different perspectives on the history of the VOC.
Visitors can walk through the illusion of the ship, constructed from more than a thousand knitted strips in gold and crimson. The gold represents prosperity and trade, while the red stands for colonialism and exploitation. Together, these colours reveal the tension and complexity of a shared but unequal history. With this installation, Vincent Ruijters questions different perspectives on the past. The work is currently on display at Museum Bahari in Indonesia and was previously on display in Hirado, Japan. The ship thus follows the route taken by many East Indiamen, in the opposite direction. A soundscape and a video connect these three locations.
The art installation Crimson Gilt is on display in a space overlooking the replica next to the museum.
Installation Crimson Gilt at the National Maritime Museum, 2026, Twycer
Vincent Ruijters - Crimson Gilt is on show until 21 March 2027.
Vincent Ruijters - Crimson Gilt is made possible by the participants of the VriendenLoterij.