Foam presents the first retrospective exhibition in the Netherlands dedicated to the work of Augusta Curiel (Suriname, 1873-1937). With her sister Anna (Suriname, 1875–1958) as her assistant, Curiel ran a successful photography studio in Paramaribo, establishing herself as one of Suriname’s most prominent photographers. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Curiel’s work, featuring over 100 images that offer a rich glimpse into Surinamese society in the early twentieth century. Augusta Curiel – Yere Mi Sten (translated from Sranan Tongo as Hear My Voice) highlights the multifaceted practice and distinctive role of Anna and Augusta Curiel in Surinamese society during the Dutch colonial period. The exhibition coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Suriname’s independence.
Using a large plate camera on a wooden tripod, Augusta Curiel likely took thousands of photographs between 1904 and 1937, both in her Paramaribo studio and on location, with the assistance of her sister Anna. She frequently received commissions to document daily life in Suriname, from official events to religious missions, traveling across the country to photograph plantations and expeditions. Curiel’s work is celebrated for her technical expertise and strong sense of composition. Her photographs were widely distributed in newspapers, magazines, postcards, souvenir albums and family collections in Suriname, the Caribbean, other former Dutch colonies, and the Netherlands. Her success was formally recognised in 1929 when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands granted her the prestigious title of Purveyor to the Royal Supplier, making her the first Surinamese photographer to receive this honour.
Augusta Curiel
Yere Mi Sten
23 May 2025 – 6 November 2025
Foam
Keizersgracht 609
1017 DS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
www.foam.org
Sinaasappelen, 1920-1937. Collectie Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen
Anna en Augusta Curiel in actie tijdens landing van het watervliegtuig de Dornier DO-X op de Surinamerivier, 18 augustus 1931. Collectie Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.
Aankomst van het stoomschip ‘H.M. Hertog Hendrik’ op de Surinamerivier bij Paramaribo, 6 februari 1928. Koninklijke Verzamelingen, Den Haag.
