On Saturday June 27, we proudly celebrated the opening of our new group exhibition, Sacred, at OpenArtExchange. The exhibition brings together works by three contemporary African artists: Sébastien Boko, Rachel Malaika and Thierry Tomety.
The afternoon unfolded as a warm gathering of art, conversation and music. A special moment was the artist talk by sculptor Sebastien Boko, who recently completed a residency with us at OpenArtExchange. During this period, Boko worked partly in the gallery and partly at the Sodafabriek, creating a new series of sculptures now presented in the exhibition. In the artist talk, he reflected on his process, materials and the sacred symbols that shape his practice. The opening was accompanied by live music from guitarist Vincent Janse, whose performance added an intimate and atmospheric layer to the afternoon.
Sacred explores what remains meaningful in a world marked by uncertainty, rapid change and social and ecological instability. Through sculpture, textile, photography and collage, the participating artists each engage with their own understanding of the sacred: as memory, ritual, identity, connection, care and transformation. Sebastien Boko presents semi-abstract sculptures in which sacred forms and cultural memory occupy a central place. Rachel Malaika reclaims the visibility of women within histories of power and representation through self-portraiture, embroidery and textile interventions. Thierry Tomety reflects on humanity’s relationship with the universe through richly layered collage works that evoke intimacy, community and invisible connections.
We are also pleased to announce that on July 17, we will unveil the work of Rachel Malaika, whose arrival was delayed by customs. We warmly invite you to join us for this special moment at the gallery.
Sacred is on view until August 16, 2026, at OpenArtExchange, Hoogstraat 85, Schiedam.