The Flower of the Colonies

"Tulip & Wayang"

c. 10 x 18 cm

Watercolour

US$ 30.00

A wayang is a wooden puppet used in Indonesian puppet plays. So many Dutch people have a wayang puppet in their home: a reminder of the colonial ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia, or perhaps just a colourful souvenir of a trip to the archipelago. In my case, the wayang came from the local Terre des Hommes, a benefit organization for the poor. It's a dusty, faded old wayang with chips in its paint. With an orange tulip, symbol of the Netherlands, beside it, the scene becomes gains meaning.