The Tilburg artist Tommy van der Loo has been invited to exhibit in the Curaçaosch Museum in Willemstad with a critical picture of the brothers of Tilburg. Tommy went into the documentary Spiegelbeeld, which was previously shown on Omroep Brabant, researching the history of the brothers of Tilburg and also passed his own family history. “My mother got blows from the brothers.”
The brothers of Tilburg have founded many schools in Curaçao and have played an important role in the field of education. But there are also stories about sexual abuse and violence. Sculptor Tommy van der Loo from Tilburg has made a wooden statue of a brother. In the image there is an opening where people can put a letter in and write down their experiences with the brothers.
“I hope that the exhibition will start a conversation in which people who did not dare to express themselves so easily about the brothers now. That can be both positive and negative by me. I would be very proud if my image could contribute to it,” says Tommy.
Dream come true
That his artwork and also the documentary can now also be seen in the Curaçaosch Museum is a dream come true for Tommy. “I am very pleased and proud that my image will be placed there. I secretly hoped for this opportunity for years,” says De Tilburger.
Abuse
Members of the Order Brothers of Tilburg were guilty of sexual abuse at boarding school De la Salle in Boxtel for weakly gifted boys in the 1960s and 1970s. The brothers of Tilburg would also have committed abuse in Curaçao.
“My own mother had lessons from the brothers. She was never sexually abused by the brothers, but in the documentary she tells that the brothers beat her and treated her differently. For example, they thought it was normal, after they had given her a few blows, wash their hands because you never knew what she could have as a dark child among the members,” says the artist.
Afraid of criticism
Tommy says: “In the beginning I was also afraid of criticism of my image. Also from my own family in Curaçao. The brothers of Tilburg still have a certain status on the island. They are still being treated as if they were a kind of saints. I am a little more critical and that can also be seen in my sculpture.”
For the documentary Spiegelbeeld, he also talked to the brothers. “My gaze has become a bit milder. They also meant a lot in the field of education.”
Waiting for privacy settings …
Umbilical cord
“Kaminda mi lombrishi ta dera, is an expression in Papiamento and that means where my umbilical cord is buried. This means that you should not forget where you come from Tilburg, but I also feel strongly connected to Curaçao by my family and my many visits. I am proud that I can now do something from the conversation by now the conversation,” says the conversation now, “says the conversation,” says the conversation now, “says the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation from the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation from the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation from the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation from the conversation,” the conversation now, “says the conversation,” the conversation. ” Tommy.
Judaline Cijntje Manager of the Curaçaosch Museum: “The theme The Brothers of Tilburg is deep in our culture. That is why we think it is a great opportunity to show the image and the documentary in our museum.”
The exhibition in Willemstad opens on 1 May and lasts until 1 July. In addition to the wooden statue about the brotherhood, which will be placed in the central hall of the museum, the documentary can also be seen in the museum’s auditorium.
On 3 May, older Curaçao people are invited to talk to each other. “I’m the most curious about this,” says Tommy. “I would like to hear their experiences”. High schools are also involved in the exhibition. A lesson program is made here, which will mainly be about the influence of the brothers on secondary education. Many high schools in Curaçao were founded by the brothers.
