Faith

Colorful

Objects from different eras and cultures come together in the colorful museum galleries. From a 15th-century Judith with the Head of Holofernes by the famous painter Sandro Botticelli to a photograph of writer Gerard Reve next to a statue of the Virgin Mary by Vincent Mentzel. From a porcelain sculpture of the Greek muse Urania and a drawing of the Taj Mahal to a painting of a pensive orphan girl by Nicolaas van der Waay.

Relatable

Some works of art depict religious stories, such as the reveling ‘prodigal son’ in a painting by Frans Francken, but that is not the case for many of the objects in the exhibition. Arnon, Naema, and Stephan were allowed to browse to their hearts’ content through the Rijksmuseum’s enormous collection and made some surprising choices. The themes are consistently recognizable: belonging and coming home, goodness and beauty, guilt and redemption.

Stories from Gouda

Faith also holds local significance. In the exhibition, dozens of Gouda residents of various ages and backgrounds answer the question: ‘What gives you a sense of grounding?’ They share their own stories alongside personal objects, ranging from a well-used camera and a ring with a special message to a prayer shawl belonging to a wise father.

De Volkskrant wrote the following about the Gouda section of the exhibition:
“Here you see just how much emotion objects can carry — almost as if they were an extension of people. How they can play a vital role in experiencing faith, hope, and love.”