Renée Wiersma

When I tell people that I’m going to a protest, I often get responses like: “Good for you, but it’s not for me,” “Be careful, okay?” and “Stay safe.” As if there is a high chance that something terrible will happen to me. I understand that concern. But protesting is so much more than that.

Over the past ten years, the number of demonstrations in the Netherlands has tripled. Despite this, only around 5% of the population actually takes to the streets. We simply do not have a strong culture of protest. The fact that many people prefer to stay at home has a great deal to do with the way demonstrations are portrayed in the media, where the focus is primarily on aggression, incidents, and (police) violence. Research shows, however, that 97% of all demonstrations take place without any incidents and therefore pose no threat to public order. Yet the current image of protesting discourages people from participating, and that is concerning, because demonstrations are essential to a healthy democracy.

Resistance, Hope & Love reveals a side of protests that remains largely overlooked in mainstream media. Through an audiovisual installation, viewers are introduced to the gap between the prevailing image and reality. They are then taken into different demonstrations: you walk alongside a march, meet people who want to share their stories, and gradually become part of something larger than yourself. Allow yourself to be carried by the experience, open your perspective, and discover another reality: demonstrations as places of connection, solidarity, care, and collective strength. Because most people who speak out for a better world are not frightening or dangerous, they are engaged, compassionate, and hopeful.

Will I see you at the next one?