De Halve Maen

by Tineke Fischer · Heerenveen, NL

For this work, I am making a virtual journey to the Banda Islands from the present. A step back in time, in the year 1607 when Jan-Pieterszoon Coen landed. He encountered a paradise island. The peaceful population welcomed Coen and his crew. The island consisted of trees where nutmeg grew, an unknown spice that the Dutch saw potential for trade. Commanding Admiral Pieter Verhoeff had been given the task of negotiating the trade in nutmeg. During the construction of the fort, the population revolted and murdered the admiral. As a result, many Bandanese were beheaded on Coen's orders. Thousands of people were murdered - beheaded for nutmeg. I translate and visualize this history to the present time to keep the history alive.